April 9, 2017
South Burnett Rail Trail users in the Wondai area will now be able to take a quick, refreshing break at the end of their runs, thanks to the generosity of the Wondai Lions Club.
The club donated the funds for a water fountain, or “bubbler”, to be installed by the South Burnett Regional Council near the start of the weekly Wondai parkrun event.
The water fountain was unveiled by Wondai Lions Club vice-president Fred Law on Saturday morning in front of a crowd of Lions club members, Wondai parkrun event directors Mick Freeman and Ros Heit, and a group of parkrunners.
It also has a dog bowl attachment with its own separate tap to cater for the furry four-pawed walkers on the trail.
The Wondai parkrun group uses a section of the Rail Trail every Saturday morning.
parkrun is an international running craze which began in the UK in 2004 and came to Australia in 2010.
Since then more than 200 Australian towns and cities have a parkrun, including Wondai where a group of local running enthusiasts started a weekly free timed 5km run in January.
Event directors Mick Freeman and Ros Heit say the Wondai parkrun is going from strength to strength.
“An average of 90 people each week sprint / run / jog or walk the five kilometre rail trail course from behind Wondai Town Hall each Saturday at 7:00am,” Ros said.
“Most participants are locals but there are a number of parkrun ‘tragics’ who travel around Australia visiting other parkruns, which is fabulous tourism for the area.”
“This has to be of huge value to the health of the community to enjoy regular exercise with friends, and you don’t have to be fast, walkers always welcome, too.
“Each week six parkrunners or family members take on the volunteer roles to manage the event; parkrun’s impressive software means every participant get their results emailed to them within a few hours.
“It is fantastic to see families participating with both young and old enjoying our Rail Trail and many share coffee at Dan’s Diner afterwards, so it’s very social.”
To take part in the Wondai parkrun register online and then print out the barcode.
“Then head to Wondai any Saturday morning at 7:00am. It’s all free and you will be made very welcome,” Ros said.
[Photos by Claire Kapernick and Wondai parkrun]
