There was not a grand prize of $1m, but there was plenty at stake for those who took part in Millicent’s own version of the popular television show The Amazing Race.

Millicent was a hive of activity with festivities to celebrate 150 years of the township, with The Amazing Race event scheduled in the program of events that took place.

With a self-imposed rule, team ‘Golf Day’ was still able to tee up the win in the adult category.

The rule was they could not put down their club for the entire race, completing all activities one handed.

This included the sports challenge involving scoring goals in netball, football, soccer, basketball and landing a ball into a bucket for the tennis activity.

‘Golf Day’ trekked its way to various activities located across the Millicent Parklands in 31 minutes.

More than 100 competitors took part in the third instalment of the race. 

Just like the game show – but on a smaller scale – at every destination each team was faced with a series of challenges, some mental and some physical.

Only when the tasks were completed the teams were rewarded with learning the next location. 

This year the race started at the Millicent Rotunda with the first clue taking participants to the Cross of Sacrifice and Bee Hive Corner.

The answer required a phone call to be made to a local number. When the correct number was called the person on the other end of the line directed teams to the Millicent Public Library.

Teams scoured the book shelves for various puzzles relating to books and authors to complete a crossword puzzle.

This then took teams to the Civic and Arts Centre to complete a music challenge. Naming four artists to a snippet of verses from a variety of song titles earned the next clue.

Outside at The Domain Artwork was a cleverly orchestrated un-jumble the letters puzzle. More letters than required were placed at the artworks. Reading the clue carefully to decipher the answer took teams to the next sports challenge.

The final challenge was to consume a raw egg and eat one Weet-Bix in a time limit of 90 seconds and scull a bottle of water in 20 seconds.

Once this challenge was completed teams raced out of the RSL Hall back to the Millicent Rotunda to stop the clock and earn themselves a celebratory piece of cake for their efforts.

First placed in the youth category was Tradie Ladies, completing the race in 33 minutes while the family category was won by The Tribe in 32 minutes. Time bonuses went to the best dressed teams. These included Improbable Incredibles, Tradie Ladies and The Circus.

Event organiser Rob Francis said all teams embraced the fun elements of the race, or possibly bribed assistants.

This year’s race was going to be held in Beachport.

“To line up with Millicent’s 150th celebrations we were asked to hold it on the same weekend,” Mr Francis said.

Money raised will once again go to the Wattle Range Suicide Prevention Network, with a total of $780 raised.

The inaugural race started as a fundraiser in 2019 when the Millicent identity was involved in the Stand Like Stone Foundation’s Swinging with the Stars dance competition.

The race saw 32 teams and 151 competitors driving around Millicent competing in a number of different challenges.

Mr Francis said it was great to see so many diverse groups enter.

“Fathers and daughters, co-workers, grandparents and grandchildren, we even had a team of veterans where the combined age in the car was over 240 years,” he said.

Teams also embraced the idea of paying a bribe to help if they were struggling at a particular station.

“This really added to the fundraising,” Mr Francis said.

Stationed at the start to finish line, Mr Francis said it was fantastic to see all the excitement and hear all the stories from competitors.

“After the day the group chat was full of positive messages and photos and I got a real sense of how great a community event it was.”

After finishing the Swinging with the Stars competition, Mr Francis said he felt he owed the Millicent community for all of its support.

That’s when he decided to join the Wattle Range Suicide Prevention Network.

“The committee is doing a great job raising awareness of mental health issues, promoting days like R U OK? Day, getting public speakers down to our area and running courses,” he said.

“We also try and flip this around and provide opportunities, such as The Amazing Race, to get families and friends to work together outside, try new things and have positive experiences.”