The Great Race was part of Farm Week at Monash University and took place on July 24, 1969 – the day the Apollo 11 astronauts splashed down after the Moon landing. It was a week of student fun & madness and included “tests of ingenuity, evil & daring” as described in the University student paper, Lot’s Wife. There were prizes for suggested feats, including “pinching a celebrity and holding them to ransom”. Two of those kidnapped included Myer CEO Kenneth Myer, and actor Barry Humphries, who was released after promising to perform for the students. Humphries spent time with his captors at the Nottinghill pub, matching student beer consumption abilities. Myer paid a significant ransom, which was donated to charity.
The race was to begin at the top of the 13 storey Redmond Barry Building at Melbourne University and
