On Thursday, April 12 at precisely 6:52:40 p.m., Warren MacLennan became $500 richer when he won the Rotary Richard contest. With a total of some 820 guesses, 41 of them for that day, and four estimates between 6:00 and 7:30 p.m., the competition was steep, but the long-time Clearwater resident’s guess of 6:30:20 p.m. was the closest to the time when the clock on Rotary Richard stopped. Consequently he wins $500 worth of gift certificates to local stores of his choice.
Money from this fundraiser and fun event, which was organized by Clearwater Rotary, will go towards providing more equipment at Dutch Lake Beach. Club members appreciate all who submitted guesses and the businesses who provided venues, making this the success it was.
A rock attached to the battery of the clock that Rotary Richard was wearing went through the ice, stopping the clock, but that stalwart dark figure remained afloat.
A perfect coincidence followed. Clearwater and Wells Gray Country’s intrepid Search and Rescue (SAR) team had just received waterproof suits that keep wearers afloat - and needed to test them out. They were happy to practise on a plywood man now floating on Dutch Lake.
Friday, April 13 was deemed an auspicious day for this rescue. When the SAR van arrived at Dutch Lake, out stepped the team, completely waterproofed from top to toe, in bright yellow floater suits. An undersized, inflated “canoe”, paddles, and a long rope completed the outfit.
Rope attached to the back end of the boat, three men squeezed into the small space, and, as two paddled out towards the subject, those on shore fed out the rope. Reaching an impasse where the paddlers were having difficulty in breaking the ice, the front man leaned forward, and used crossed forearms to break out a path. Their objective was quickly reached and “Rotary Richard” was lifted on board. The front man then tested the capability of his outfit by going into the icy water, floating on his back. It looked like fun!
The team on shore then pulled the boat backwards towards them and the deed was done: “Rotary Richard” was safe. Practice continued, however, as members of the SAR team switched roles, men and women having the opportunity to paddle the wee craft through the icy water and be pulled back to shore. Clearwater and area is indeed fortunate to have these volunteers who are willing to tackle any circumstance to ensure the safety of all.
And talking about lucky, Warren McLennan, on hearing that he was the recipient of this year’s prize, was planning on taking his wife out to dinner to celebrate.
Interestingly, last minute guessers were not any closer to the date and time than those who put in their guesses in the contest two or three weeks earlier.
Clearwater Rotary intends to make this fun challenge an annual event. Rotary Richard, safely rescued, will be out there again early in 2013.