Week 14: Summit to (almost) Source to the Sea — Our 2,479 km Murray River Odyssey
- anjawever45
- Jul 7
- 4 min read
After almost four months on this epic journey—starting on foot at Mount Kosciusko on 1st March and transitioning to paddling/ rowing from Hume Dam on 31st March —we’ve travelled over 2,100 km on the water and 340 km hiking. And now, we’re here.
It still feels surreal. I catch myself checking the weather and thinking, “I don’t have to go out into the wind today.” That simple realisation brings an odd mix of relief and disbelief.
Mannum Rowing Club
Big thanks to Captain Brian Bormann and the Mannum crew for the warm welcome and a quick tour of their boathouse. So much history in that place!
Murray Bridge Rowing Club Thank you Stacy Seidel for swiftly arranging a visit with Coach Ben Porte and Captain Hayden Teunissen, even though we were rushing through. Your time and kindness meant so much as night fell and we scrambled to find a campsite.
Tailem Bend Rowing Club
Special gratitude to Brian McLoughland, Harry Harrison, his partner—and their friendly pups! Staying the night at your club, storing our boats, and getting help launching the next morning made a tough day much easier.
Arrival at Wellington On July 5th at 10 am, we reached Wellington after battling choppy waters from Tailem Bend. This was the official endpoint of the River Murray.
We waited at Bakers Reserve for Tim, Ariadne, and Beverley, and when they arrived, we rowed over to our holiday accommodation. Seeing them was very emotional. I hadn’t seen my daughter in four months—we hugged, cried, and shared stories.
But there was still one last leg to go. With wind forecasts narrowing our options, we had just one brief window on Sunday, July 6th, to finish. So we packed up, prepped the boats, and got ready for the final row.
Goolwa & The Final Paddle/ Row At 5 am, we were portaged from Wellington to Hindmarsh Beach. We made the choice not to tackle Lake Alexandrina—it was time for peace, beauty, and safety.
And that’s exactly what we got. The water was like glass. Goolwa Rowing Club joined us in singles, quads, and octos. We paddled through the Goolwa Bridge and the barrage with support from Adam, the lock master.
The final 7 km to Sugars Beach felt like a dream. Seals, black swans, and bird life surrounded us. At the Murray Mouth, we were welcomed by cheers from the Goolwa Rowing Club, media, the Inland River Marathon team, Beverley, and my family. Even a seal popped up to greet us.
Then came interviews, photos, registration into the Inland Rivers National Marathon Register, and a beautiful breakfast with the Goolwa Rowing Club crew.
It was a perfect ending to a huge adventure—one that Cy and I will carry with us forever.
How do I feel?
We’ve been asked again and again: “How do you feel?” and “What’s next?” And honestly, those are tough questions.
There’s definitely relief. The cold, the wind, the physical strain—it’s over.
But there's also a deep sadness. The river feels alive to me. It gave us wildlife, generous people, rich stories, and a new closeness with my son. I’m incredibly grateful for that.
As for what's next—I have dreams I still want to chase. But right now, I’m also a mum. My young daughter has waited patiently for me, and now it’s time for me to be present for her and for my husband who supported us every step of the way.
I’ll also return to work soon—life calls. But new adventures & opportunities are on the horizon. And not every adventure has to be as big as the Murray River.
Thank you all so much for the love, encouragement, and support. It meant so much to me.
Special thanks go to:
My family & Beverley Malone
Balmain Rowing Club
Murray River Expeditioners Group
Corowa Rowing Club - Wes Canny & Crew
Yarrawonga Rowing Club (closed) - Emily Mansfield
Echuca - Deb Evans & Peter Phillips
Robinvale Rowing Club - Stephen Goodwin & Manangatan High School Students - Year 7 & 8
Mildura Rowing Club - Michael Wild & Russell Cornwell & Crew
Renmark Rowing Club - Tony Townsend & Crew
Berri Rowing Club - Paul Otham & Brian Godfrey
Waikerie Rowing Club - Leslie Lennel & Malcolm Mann
Mannum Rowing Club - Brian Bormann & Crew
Murray Bridge Rowing Club - Stacy Seidel, Ben Porte, Hayden Teunissen
Tailem Bend Rowing Club - Brian McLoughlin & Harry Harrison
Goolwa Rowing Club - Kate Tebneff, Libby Thornton & Crew
