Family sail raft 150km down the Hawkesbury

by Mark Cherrington on 5 Jan 2010 If you are anywhere near the Hawkesbury River just north of Sydney in the next few days, look out for five cramped people in a strange craft with a square-rigged sail.

It's the Knox family from Lindfield, who are making a 150km journey from Windsor to Bayview in the southern end of Pittwater.

While 16-year-old Jessica Watson may be making a world splash with her courageous voyage into the Southern Ocean, spending two weeks on a raft with no showers, no beds and three school age children may sound like more of a challenge.

However, Tim Knox, a marketing consultant and his wife Sue Knox, a language teacher say their children, Sam, 15, Leo, 13 and Poppy, 10, are keen to undertake the journey.

There is a serious side to the voyage. The family hope to raise more than $10,000 for Sunnyfield, a charity which has been of great help to Leo with his intellectual disability, and for the Lindfield Scout Group, of which Sam is a member.

'Coming to Australia with no family or relatives, we relied a lot on support and Sunnyfield was great with Leo,' Mrs Knox told reporters before their departure.

While two weeks on a raft might not sound like the way most people want to spend their holidays, such an adventure is nothing unusual for this intrepid family. The British family had never visited Australia when they moved here eight years ago - and three years ago they spent a week travelling down the Murray River in an inflatable dinghy.

Donations can be made through the 2nd and 3rd Lindfield Scouts website at www.23lindfield.com.au or by sending a cheque to PO Box 21, Lindfield, 2070.