Hannans Rotary Club

The brainchild of Kris Laurie, the first Balzano Barrow Race took place in 1993, Kalgoorlie’s centenary year, and proved to be so successful that the event has been held annually ever since –as a fun day for both participants and spectators – and as a fundraiser for highly regarded community groups, such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

The Rotary Club of Hannans took over the management of the event in 1998, and looks forward to organising this great event for many years to come.  In its short history ‘Balzano’ has become a real part of the Goldfields – bringing the spirit of the Goldfields’ pioneers to life.

The race reflects the history, sporting fervour, colour, energy and the characters that make up the Goldfields.  Whether you’re a ‘Sunday stroller’ or a champion athlete you’ll enjoy being part of ‘Balzano’.

One of the special features of the race is that entrants competing for the ‘1893 Spirit of Balzano’ Award build their barrows out of bush timber to the specifications written by James Balzano in his diary dated September 17, 1897 and wear period costume.  The remainder of the competitors, with their sleek modern machines, reflect the technological innovation that is today’s mining industry byword.

James Balzano was born in Italy in 1859 and travelled widely throughout the world before joining the gold rush to Western Australia. He carried all his belongings on a primitive homemade wheelbarrow made out of saplings and case wood.  His barrow had a wooden wheel covered with metal to reduce wear, saplings for handles and a tray on which he could sleep up off the ground and out of the way of snakes and lizards.  He used animal fat to grease the axle.

Balzano arrived in Kanowna, pushing his barrow on 18 January 1896 after having travelled 560 miles!  He made other long trips pushing his barrow, including one to Esperance (and back to Kanowna) to enjoy the beach and have a swim!

Balzano was not a successful prospector.  However, he left us a great legacy in his diaries in which he recorded his everyday life, living conditions and routines. Local identity Ron Manners has written a book telling Balzano’s story using these vivid diaries as source material.

The 2008 GWN Balzano Barrow Race will be staged on Sunday 26th of October 2008. The event involves teams and individuals running or walking the 23km from the ‘ghost town’ of Kanowna to the finish at Centennial Park in Kalgoorlie.

Each year on Balzano Barrow Race day, today’s Goldfielders become ‘barrowmen’ for the day, paying tribute to the enterprise of the region’s pioneers.  This ‘Race Book’ explains all you need to know about entering the 2008 GWN Balzano Barrow Race.  So – read on, then complete and return the Entry Form.

Entries close on Friday, September 26, 2008.