Derrick Brown entering a rapid on the Shoalhaven River above The
Blockup Gorge. New Year's Eve, 1991.
Stephen Rowlands

collected the cars and a supply of cold drinks and drove to meet the main party near Hillside. They were very pleased to see us slightly before the appointed time.

Lilo Derbys at Lerderderg Gorge

Darley Ford on the Lerderderg River was the scene of many pleasant lilo weekends. Weekend walkers would camp and explore the area before meeting up with the Sunday walkers. After lunch the competitive events took place - a series of races on lilos along the pool. It was a pleasant way to spend a hot, summer weekend. The Lilo Derby was a regular, yearly event for many years. The last Lilo Derby weekend of the eighties was held on 16-17 January 1982.

Other rivers, other trips

In 1982-83 Jopie Bodegraven led a trip along the Colo River from Newnes to Upper Colo. The Wolgan River is very shallow with a sandy bottom. We set off along a track that followed it downstream for three days before there was sufficient water to float the lilos. The liloing then became better, with long deep pools, some rapids and lots of water.