Brad Chaplin and Adam Bloor’s picnic table boat they built in a shed three years ago, which they have been floating down the Murrumbidgee River at Jugiong every Australia Day for the past three years.
For the last 10 or so years, Young residents’ Brad Chaplin and Adam Bloor have been spending their Australia Day on the Murrumbidgee River at Jugiong with their families. However, a few years ago, they had the idea of building a picnic table boat to take for a spin down the Murrumbidgee River.
“It was just an idea that we had a few years ago,” said Brad. “Adam and I, over a couple of beers in a shed, came up with the idea, so we built a picnic table on a few barrels and put a little outboard motor on it and took it down to Jugiong for [the] Australia Day weekend.”
The picnic table sits atop four bright blue barrels with a Travla beer beach umbrella and an Australian flag on it. “It was great fun,” he said. “It got a lot of attention, and a lot of people took photos of it. We had people coming down and introducing themselves and asking if their children could have a turn on it, all sorts of things.
“The second year was the same.”
2026 marked their third year of taking the picnic boat down the Murrumbidgee. “I thought it might be something that other people would enjoy, so I made [a] Facebook page and put all the information on there,” Brad said. “But it was just an idea. “I was thinking ‘wouldn’t it be fun if it took off and we saw three or four, or even five or six of them on the river every year on Australia Day?’”
According to Brad, the pair had received a lot of interest with several saying they would join in. They even heard from people located in Sydney and Melbourne, who they’d met the year before, who had half-built picnic table boats in preparation for next year’s event.
“We had a few others who almost made it, but we were the only ones there again this year,” said Brad. “We will keep the idea out there and see what happens next year and see if it grows.” After setting up camp at the Jugiong Showgrounds for the weekend, Brad and Adam arrived on the Thursday afternoon, conducting joyrides up and down the river from Friday morning throughout the weekend.
“The kids are always keen to do a bunch of laps,” said Brad. “We give [them] a ride and then we might anchor up and go for a swim in the river, have some food, beer and lunch out there too. “It’s just a good way to spend the time.”
For anyone interested in joining the fun in the future, check out the Jugiong Picnic Table Regatta Facebook page.
– Emily Flint
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