By PDG Ted Richey
Rotary Club of Devonport, Tas
The Rotary Club of Devonport, Tas, has been launching brightly coloured teddy bears from a helicopter for the past 19 years, as part of its Teddy Bear Fly In and Kite Festival.
The event draws large crowds of mainly children to see the helicopter land almost in front of them. A large net loaded with teddy bears is taken aloft and, at a suitable height, the net is opened and the bears jump out into the sky – their parachutes opening as all 300-400 of them jockey for position to land closest to the aiming marker.
There are two classes of bears: corporate bears, which are sponsored by local businesses, and children’s bears. The corporate bears have paid a $100 fee to jump, and the owner of the winning bear has a tax deductible $4,000 donated in their name to Australian Rotary Health for research into gastroparesis. The children’s bears are $25, and the winning owner receives an enormous bear with a sash and another exciting prize.
“At a suitable height, the net is opened and the bears jump out into the sky – their parachutes opening as all 300-400 of them jockey for position to land closest to the aiming marker.”
The Rotary Club of Devonport also runs a very busy barbecue on the day and brings onboard stalls selling kites, face painters, coffee vans, small food vans, among others.
Gastroparesis Launceston sells the bears in Launceston and sends down a contingent each year to promote awareness of this horrible disease, and to work beside the club.
Darryl Taylor of Tasmanian Helicopters has supplied a jet ranger helicopter free of charge for the past 20 years, for which the club is extremely grateful.
The event has become the club’s major fundraiser, with approximately $80,000 going to Australian Rotary Health over the years and another $100,000, with the help of Gastroparesis Launceston, for research fellowships into finding a cure for gastroparesis. Money raised at the event is also used to support the local community and international Rotary projects.
The day has grown over the years, with this year’s event the biggest ever. The future looks bright, and with a new cohort of younger Rotarians coming along and the general interest of the local community there is no reason the event cannot run for the next 20 years.
The 20th annual Teddy Bear Fly In and Kite Festival will take place in mid-February 2023. The teddy bears are already lining up to get their shirts and their parachutes fitted, and wait with great anticipation to meet their new owners and jump out into the sky over Devonport.