March 30, 2016
In a little over six weeks from now, the road that connects Murgon with Cherbourg will be closed to traffic for two hours for a fun Sunday morning event that is helping put the South Burnett on the national stage.
Instead of cars, the Murgon-Cherbourg Road will be packed with hundreds of walkers and runners, along with a few skippers, the occasional cartwheeler, and even some people in mobility chairs.
All of them will be taking part in the 3rd annual Reconciliation Fun Run.
The Run is the brainchild of Cherbourg’s Ration Shed Museum committee, who came up with the idea to promote reconciliation, both locally and State-wide, as well as creating a fun way to raise funds for the Museum’s operations.
After the first Run in 2014 attracted almost 300 participants, attendance numbers nearly doubled last year.
So this year, organisers are naturally hoping they’ll swell again.
Fun Run participants will gather at the Murgon Showgrounds on Sunday morning, May 15 from 7:30am for registration and instruction before the race gets underway at 8:00am.
From there, walkers and runners will continue along Perkins Street to the Cherbourg-Murgon Road at their own pace until they reach the finish line outside the Ration Shed Museum in Barambah Avenue, Cherbourg.
Along the way, there’ll be three strategically-located water stations equipped with qualified health workers, toilet facilities, rubbish bins, water and orange pieces to help revive anyone who flags.
Keen athletes can vie to be first across the line for a range of prizes on offer (eg: first male primary student, first female secondary student, best dressed team etc).
But everyone else – and that’s most people – just enjoy a leisurely Sunday morning walk that wends along the Barambah Creek flats and over a few hills into the heart of Cherbourg.
Afterwards, everyone is welcome to join in a party-themed morning of fun, food, displays, stalls and live entertainment in the Museum’s grounds and the adjoining Cherbourg Memorial Park, while shuttle buses ferry anyone who needs a ride back to Murgon Showgrounds.
The Run has drawn positive support from Reconciliation Queensland ever since it began, and also from professional athletes.
Former rugby league star Petero Civoniceva was a special guest star at the first Reconciliation Fun Run, and last year champion hurdler Shannon McCann, body builder Rhonda Purcell and sprinter Larissa Chambers lent their own star power to the occasion.
Organisers are keeping tight-lipped about who this year’s special guest(s) might be, but say participants can expect a surprise.
Participation costs in this year’s Reconciliation Fun Run are $5 for children up to 18 years (or $2 if they enter as part of a local school team), $20 for adults, $12 for pensioners or $50 for a family.
However Ration Shed chairperson Aunty Sandra Morgan was keen to stress that registration costs should not put anyone off, and if they were too high for anyone or their family, they should talk to The Ration Shed.
“We will work something out,” she said.
Registrations for this year’s Reconciliation Fun Run are now open, and can be made through the Ration Shed Museum’s website.
A full-size copy of the 2016 Reconciliation Fun Run poster can be downloaded here (126Kb PDF).
Related articles:
- Fitness, Fun and Friendship (2015 Fun Run)
- Running For Fun And Reconciliation (2014 Fun Run)
