Scott Gladman, a farmer from Victoria, has embarked on an ambitious journey to swim the entire length of the Darling River. He commenced his adventure near Brewarrina in north-west New South Wales on Tuesday, with the goal of reaching the Murray River at the Victorian border by year-end. This endeavor is expected to take over 100 days, during which Mr. Gladman will forgo significant events such as the grain harvest season, the upcoming Victorian election, and his son’s wedding.
At 63 years old, Gladman, a grandfather, aims to achieve a remarkable milestone by becoming the first individual to swim the 1,650-kilometer stretch of the Darling River to raise funds for causes that are important to him. He has named his endeavor ‘Fight the Current’ and is raising money for Fight Parkinson’s and MND Victoria. He anticipates that the swim will last around 103 days, contingent upon favorable conditions.
The motivation for this challenge arose after Mr. Gladman experienced a health scare at the age of 54, prompting him to seize his second chance at life. In 2022, his close friend Russ Wardle was diagnosed with a form of Parkinson’s disease, which later progressed to Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) in 2024. Additionally, another family friend, Pat Russell, was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) around the same time. Gladman expressed his concern for those struggling with such illnesses, stating, “I’ve seen many people facing various health challenges, and while I have a second chance, they are in a much tougher battle.”
Determined to support his friends and others affected by MND, PSP, and Parkinson’s, he thought of undertaking a physical challenge to raise awareness and funds. Although swimming the Murray River seemed feasible, he realized that no one had attempted the Darling River before, thereby choosing it as his route.
The idea was first shared with his friends Russell and Wardle in September of the previous year. Russell expressed admiration for Gladman’s commitment, stating, “It’s humbling that he would do this for me and my children. When he shared his plan, it brought me to tears. The level of mental preparation he has shown is impressive.” Russell plans to accompany Gladman on the journey by paddling a boat ahead of him as he swims.
To prepare for this significant task, Gladman sought guidance from Mike Gregory, a renowned swim coach and member of the Australian Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame. Throughout his training, he adhered to a rigorous routine, rising at 4:30 a.m. each weekday. He would then drive to the Murray River, where he swam about four to five kilometers each morning. Once winter set in, he shifted to swimming laps at an indoor pool in Swan Hill. Sundays were reserved for longer swims of seven to eight kilometers, while Saturdays were his rest days, dedicated to caring for his grandchildren.
During the actual swim down the Darling River, Mr. Gladman intends to start with a daily distance of 12 kilometers and gradually increase it. He admitted that he has not yet swum such distances, noting, “I haven’t really been much over eight kilometers.” He will be joined on this three-month expedition by his wife, a family friend, and Mike Bremer from Canberra, who has experience paddling various rivers in the Murray-Darling Basin. Gladman approached Bremer, asking if he would like to join him, and Bremer readily accepted.
Although communication may be challenging during the swim, as Gladman will be using earplugs, he and Bremer have devised a plan to ensure they stay coordinated. In some areas where the water may become too shallow, Gladman may need to walk, and the team will have to navigate any weirs they encounter along the way.
Throughout this endeavor, Mr. Gladman will miss several important occasions, including the grain harvest, the Victorian election on November 28, and his son’s wedding on September 5. He reflected on this sacrifice, saying, “I’ll be thinking of my son and his fiancé during that time; it will be a significant moment that I will miss.”
To support his journey, Gladman has secured sponsorship for an ATV and a boat. After completing the swim, he plans to raffle the boat and sell the ATV. He is also seeking additional sponsorships and has launched a GoFundMe campaign through the Fight the Current website to raise funds for his chosen charities.
