History - Darwin Lions Beer Can Regatta

The Darwin Beer Can Regatta

"The Darwin Beer Can Regatta started as an unusual by-product of the devastation caused to Darwin by Cyclone Tracy in 1974. Owing to the considerable damage caused by the cyclone, large quantities of materials and manpower from interstate were brought to Darwin to assist in the rebuilding of the city. As many of the rebuilding work force personnel were from the southern states, and were not used to the humidity, the consumption of canned beer increased dramatically. This resulted in an abundance of empty beer cans littering the many work sites around Darwin, and as there were no recycling programmes in effect at the time, the beer cans became a litter problem. A Darwin citizen, Lutz Frankensfeld, came up with the suggestion that there should hold a boat race, with all the boats fabricated out of beer cans. The theory was that this would give the local population and workers alike, an incentive to clear up some of the empty beer cans, and at the same time have a day of fun. The inaugural beer can race in 1975 was an instant success, and it was decided that it would be an annual event."