00:02One of Melbourne's silliest traditions, now in its 50th year, the famous Birdman Rally
00:17at the Moomba Festival sees daring contestants launch themselves into the murky Yarra River
00:23in homemade contraptions, designed with varying degrees of aerodynamism.
00:29Each of the 13 contestants this year raised money for local charities of their choice.
00:35Well I've been training for this for four years, this is my Olympics.
00:37This litigation lawyer turned winged pig, Charles Noonan, flying by the seat of his pants.
00:44No testing whatsoever, today is the first day, we'll see whether it gets off the ground.
00:49Perfectly timed for International Women's Day, Louise Atkinson created the Crimson Warrior
00:54with a very absorbent design, using hundreds of sanitary pads to raise awareness about periods.
01:01Maybe there'll be no competitors after me because I would have sucked out the whole river dry.
01:05Also among them, this year's Moomba monarch, Sammy J, dressed as Flinders Street Station,
01:10which went about as well as you might expect.
01:13This is, for me, the ultimate Melbourne experience, meeting under the clocks, you know.
01:18After each jump, rescuers were at the ready, with crowds giving their opinion.
01:23A group of high school students from parks in New South Wales coasting for 10 metres.
01:31Stealing the contest.
01:34And for those wondering what the Yarra's like to swim in.
01:37I feel alive, it's so refreshing, apart from the smell, just don't come near me.
01:40A delightfully silly way to spend the weekend.
01:48I don't know if there is no way to swim in the next day.
01:48But I don't creo too, as can you.
01:48I don't know if I drew a couple of highly wiggle stations on the ground.
01:49You know I've got the right to do the right to win.
01:49You know, I've got a really good average.
01:49I know if I've got the right to stay, I don't know.
Comments