Rotary Narrandera · Press + Media
Press + Media
Twenty drop bears race down the Murrumbidgee at Narrandera. The river, the races and the koalas are real.
Fast Facts
- What
- Drop Bear Dash — twenty drop bears race down the Murrumbidgee River.
- When
- Saturday 19 September 2026. Four races: 2:00pm, 2:15pm, 2:30pm and 2:45pm AEST. All twenty bears run in every race; gates close five minutes before each race.
- Where
- Murrumbidgee River, Narrandera, NSW.
- Format
- Back a bear from $5 = charity raffle entry. Top three bears trigger prize draws.
- Prizes
- Bears that finish top three trigger live prize draws — and the prizes are serious. Full reveal before race day.
- Cause
- Proceeds support koala preservation in Narrandera.
- Permit
- Conducted by the Rotary Club of Narrandera under the NSW Community Gaming Act 2018.
Race schedule
Saturday 19 September 2026. Four races. All twenty bears run in every race. Gates for each race close five minutes before it starts.
- 1Race 12:00pm AESTUpcoming
- 2Race 22:15pm AESTUpcoming
- 3Race 32:30pm AESTUpcoming
- 4Race 42:45pm AESTUpcoming
The Koala Story
The koalas are real. In the early 1970s, 23 koalas were released onto Narrandera's riverbank reserve. Today the colony numbers more than 290. Locals have counted them by hand every September since 1979 — one of the longest continuous community-run koala counts in Australia. In 2022 koalas were declared endangered in NSW, and a parliamentary inquiry warned they could be extinct in the wild in the state by 2050.
Spokespersons
The Race Marshal
Gives interviews entirely in character. Available for broadcast crosses, race-week commentary, and live start-call rehearsals.
Rotary Club of Narrandera
Answers everything sincerely. The right contact for governance, permits, funds, and the koala preservation story.
Media Contact
For interviews, broadcast rights, accreditation, and asset requests:
Downloadable Assets
Hero imagery, bear racing silks, broadcast-style social cards, and the official event one-sheet will be available here for accredited media.
Until the first race on the Murrumbidgee.