March 13, 2014
Runners (and walkers) from Cherbourg, Murgon and all parts of the South Burnett have begun preparing for the first-ever Ration Shed Reconciliation Fun Run.
The Fun Run, to be held on Sunday, April 27, will follow a 7km course from Murgon Showgrounds to Cherbourg’s Ration Shed Museum, and organisers are hoping for a big turnout.
Participants will gather together at the Garrick Street entrance to Murgon Showgrounds at 7:30am and then make their way along Perkins Street, the Cherbourg-Murgon Road and Barambah Avenue to the Ration Shed, where there’ll be a day of fun and festivities running until around 2:00pm.
All three roads that make up the Fun Run course will be closed to traffic during the fun run.
Perkins Street in Murgon will be closed from 8:00am to 8:20am, the Cherbourg-Murgon road from 8:00am to 10:00am; and Barambah Avenue from 8:15am to 10:00am.
Free buses will leave from the front of the Cherbourg Council Chambers at 7:15am to take participants from Cherbourg to Murgon for the start of the run, and a return bus to Cherbourg will enable visitors to attend the post-race festivities following the opening of the roads at 10:00am.
Indigenous and non-indigenous elders from Cherbourg and Murgon will also be transported to Cherbourg at the end of the Fun Run, and afterwards buses will run regularly back and forth to Murgon to return participants to the Murgon Showgrounds area.
Water stations manned by health workers and equipped with toilet facilities will be set up at three strategic locations along the route.
Free health checks will be available to participants at the conclusion of the race, and all participants will also receive a special Certificate of Participation.
At The Ration Shed, there’ll be a special exhibition focussing on local Aboriginal sportsmen and women and their achievements over the years.
There’ll also be tours the Ration Shed, along with food, games, market stalls, dances, performances and family activities.
The idea for the Fun Run is the brainchild of Ration Shed chairperson Sandra Morgan and her assistant Robyn Hofmeyr and has already attracted strong support.
“The event is for fun and enjoyment and it’s open to everyone,” they said.
“The people of Cherbourg are opening their arms to welcome the people of Murgon and the South Burnett to promote reconciliation and build bridges between our two communities.
“We invite everyone to come walk or run the seven kilometres between these two towns in the name of friendship, hope and new possibilities.”
The event itself will not be timed, so dedicated runners will need to arrange their own personal timing method, but prizes will be awarded to first across the line in the following categories:
- 1st male
- 1st female
- 1st primary student (male)
- 1st primary student (female)
- 1st secondary student (male)
- 1st secondary student (female)
- 1st senior male (over 60)
- 1st senior female (over 60)
- Best dressed team
- School with the most participating students
“This is a fun event with the emphasis on fun,” Zona Hussey-Smith, from the Cherbourg Historical Precinct Group, said.
“We want to welcome people into the community of Cherbourg and achieve reconciliation through education, collaboration and friendship.
“We also want to inspire healthy active lifestyles, elevate Aboriginal culture and celebrate the achievements of the community and its people.
“It should be a really great day out.”
- If you’d like to take part in the Reconciliation Fun Run, you can register online through
The Ration Shed’s website
