First Nations cultural custodians Gadhungal Marring and Marine Rescue Jervis Bay put on a very special day on 26 January where all are welcome at the Moona Moona Creek Reserve. Arrive before the 9am Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony, buy a ticket (or 4) in the day’s Duck Derby Races and special raffles, and enjoy the market stalls, food vendors and live music that make this day uniquely part of Jervis Bay.
Monday 26 January will be a special day to remember here in Jervis Bay as the local community gathers at Moona Moona Creek Reserve, where the First Nations cultural custodians Gadhungal Marring will start the day with traditions including a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony. There will also be performances by dance troupes and cultural storytelling throughout the day.
The annual Duck Derby is on again with 500 bright yellow ducks riding the tide and paying out $500 to the lucky race winners. Merryll Gomm, Fundraising Coordinator, Marine Rescue Jervis Bay says while the derby has been going for around 25 years in various forms, it’s been a significant fundraising for Marine Rescue for the past decade, providing vital money to keep the rescue vessels in perfect working order.
Rescue stats for Jervis Bay in 2025 include 121 rescue responses, including 3 Pan Pans and 2 Maydays. Also 56 engine failures, 6 medical emergencies, 3 capsizes, 9 bad fuel or out of fuel. The team assisted 254 adults and 39 children, and attended to vessels of all kinds from kayaks to yachts and motor cruisers.
Once the tide starts flowing around 10am, the first of a dozen duck races will commence. Kids (and “big” kids) are welcome to launch the 500 ducks out of the starting gate by bouncing the special barrier. It’s important they wear reef shoes or crocs as there are sharp oyster shells in the water (to avoid a visit to the first aid tent), along with sunscreen, a hat and a rashie.
Racing Ducks are not Souvenirs
While the temptation to take a racing duck home is very strong, the Marine Rescue promotional tent will have Tiny Ducks ($2) and Fluffy Ducks ($15) available for anyone wanting a souvenir of the day.
Merryll says that Tiny Ducks will be available this weekend at the Husky Markets on Sunday, if you want to get a head start.
Head Start at Husky Markets
This Sunday, 11 January at the Huskisson Markets in the sports field, the Marine Rescue Jervis Bay gazebo will be selling a special pre-release allocation of tickets to races 5-12, for anyone who wants to secure their ducks early – highly recommended as ducks have been known to sell out very quickly on Race Day.
While the Tiny Ducks will be for sale at the markets, anyone wanting a Fluffy Duck will need to be at the races, as Merryll says many families buy one every year and she doesn’t want anyone to miss out.
Another way to get a head start is online, where the tickets for the highly sought-after Race 1 are 5 for $20 while all the other races are 4 for $20. Limited tickets are still available for the online race which is sponsored by the National Australia Day Council. Merryll also mentions that the day wouldn’t be possible without the support of Bendigo Bank’s sponsorship.
On the Day: shuttle buses and raffle
Shuttle buses will run on the day to help avoid traffic and parking issues, so everyone is encouraged to take advantage of these regular services. Club Jervis Bay is running a shuttle from the bus stop outside Pasta Buoy on Owen Street Huskisson, while the Country Club St Georges Basin and Gadhungal Marring will run regular buses from outside the post office at HomeCo Vincentia.
A special raffle will also be held on the day with a plethora of prizes drawn at 2pm. There won’t be any pre-sales for this so make sure you buy your tickets while you are buying your racing ducks.
Quackin in the Bay
Merryll says that a catchy tune is just a click away. “We’ve got a whole range of Jervis Bay Marine Rescue music, which people can hear at the markets. We’ve got a music video called Quacking in the Bay.”
