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The 12ft inflatable rubber duck saving lives

By Jemma Jones

May 27, 2026

The duck that Courtney Gardner, Daryl Gardner and Luke Sharrock from Moama Marine Rescue say is more than just a duck. Photo by JORDAN TOWNROW

It was an unconventional sentinel, but the 12ft inflatable rubber duck perched at the waters edge of Dungala Function Centre was impossible to ignore.

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While whimsical, the giant mascot served as a stark, high-visibility warning for the Inland Waterways Forum held in Moama on Thursday, May 21, which brought together industry professionals to discuss drowning prevention.

The forum was focused on one alarming statistic: 33 per cent of all fatal drownings in the past financial year happened at inland waterways such as rivers and lakes.

Life Saving Victoria general manager for aquatic capability Andy Dennis said this forum was an opportunity to find a way to reduce that figure.

Mr Dennis said the forum brought together government agencies, emergency services and aquatic industry professionals with the goal of aligning the right people to agree on practical actions that would reduce risk in inland waterway areas.

“It’s vital we work to address the many and varied factors that can contribute to drowning fatalities on inland waterways,” Mr Dennis said.

One of those ways came in the form of the massive rubber ducks that dominated space around the function centre.

Luke Sharrock for Moama Marine Rescue spoke about his unit and the dangers faced by those using the waters around Echuca Moama. Photo by JORDAN TOWNROW

According to LSV’s Bernadette Matthews, the ducks serve a serious purpose beyond photo opportunities.

It’s been an LSV initiative for the past 25 years, acting as a reminder for parents to keep an eye on young children when they play around water.

The forum discussed many initiatives.

Moama Marine Rescue unit commander Luke Sharrock spoke about hidden hazards in murky water, particularly in the Murray River, that could cause serious harm.

He also discussed his unit’s experiences responding to incidents along the Murray in the past year and the impact it had on his team.

“The summer of 2024 and 25 ... was really the worst year on record ever with the number of people we had going missing,” he said.

“When it was like that ... I actually had to personally step down and step down other members to be mindful of them.”

The Dungala Function Centre was filled with industry professionals. Photo by JORDAN TOWNROW

Other case studies highlighted at the forum included Campaspe Shire Council’s Bush Nipper program, which teaches local kids how to be safe around inland waterways, as well as the keynote presentation about bystander rescue equipment being made more readily available around rivers.

For Dr Matthews, the day was a testament to collaboration.

“It’s challenging to see drowning incidents in similar situations and circumstances, but this forum allows us to provide people with vital information to help them take action and prevent more drownings,” she said.

The takeaway from the forum is clear: professionals are committed to driving down that 33 per cent figure — even if it takes a 12ft rubber duck to get the message across.