Scott Gladman, a grain farmer from Natya, Victoria, has been swimming the 1650-kilometre length of the Darling River since September 1 to raise money for Fight Parkinson's and MND Victoria. The diagnoses of two friends and a heart scare nine years ago helped prompt the swim, and he hoped to finish at Wentworth 103 days after starting.
Gladman, who farms 18,000 hectares in Victoria's north, learned at age 54 that his doctor said his arteries were 95, 80 and 75 per cent blocked. After three stents, he says he re-evaluated his life. In 2022, his friend Russ Wardle was diagnosed with Parkinson's and Pat Russell, 36, a friend of his son, was diagnosed with motor neurone disease. 'I got a second chance, but these two blokes didn't,' Gladman says.
Gladman says he is not a good swimmer, breathes on one side and hardly kicks; coach Mike Gregory tried to teach him to kick. Gladman trained in the Murray River and a 25-metre pool. To replicate the Darling swim, he would have had to swim 66,000 laps. On the Darling, most days he swims about 16 kilometres, navigating weirs, logs and shallow silt banks with help from expert paddler Mike Bremer, who uses maps to guide him around snags.
The Darling River is Australia's longest river system, and no one is known to have swum its entire length. It holds 46 breeds of snake and 50 native fish species. The water's green tinge varies from pea soup to lime spider, and Gladman cannot see hazards through his goggles.
Gladman's support team includes his wife Geraldine on logistics, Pat Russell steering a tinnie ahead, and Rick Hasty driving a Polaris vehicle along the banks. Hasty, a former policeman who survived a near-fatal encounter with the 'After Dark Bandit' in 1979, says he finds solace in helping others. The Polaris and other donated equipment will be auctioned to add to the fundraising fund.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The swim raises awareness and funds for two serious neurological diseases, Parkinson's disease and motor neurone disease, that affect many Australians.
- It demonstrates how personal health crises and community ties can inspire remarkable charitable challenges.
- The funds raised will support research and support services for patients and families.
Background
Gladman's decision to swim the Darling River follows his own life-threatening heart condition and the diagnoses of two friends. The Darling River stretches 1650 kilometres through New South Wales and presents hazards such as weirs, logs, snakes and low visibility. Gladman's team includes a former police officer who himself faced death and now finds purpose in assisting others.
Key Perspectives
Scott Gladman: Says his second chance after a heart scare motivated him to act after two friends were given devastating diagnoses. “I got a second chance, but these two blokes didn’t.”
Rick Hasty: The former policeman who survived a gunpoint encounter with a wanted criminal says he finds fulfillment in helping others, including driving support for Gladman's swim.
What to Watch
- The swim is expected to finish in late December, weather and river conditions permitting.
- The total amount raised through online donations and the eventual auction of the Polaris and other equipment.
- Potential impact on awareness of the Darling River's health and the challenges facing inland waterways.