2016 Reconciliation Fun Run – a great success!

Our third Reconciliation Fun Run was a great success – a day of building bridges, having fun and healthy living. Over 450 runners registered. It was a great crowd – locals from Cherbourg, Murgon, various celebrities, Mayor Arnold Murray from Cherbourg, Keith Campbell from the South Burnett and Kathy Duff Deputy Mayor as well as the Director-General of the Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Clare O’Connor all took part.

The action started early in the morning at 6am with a set up. Fortunately, we had many wonderful volunteers from the Cherbourg Community, QUT Big Lift and some UQ medical students.  Runners and walkers gathered in the fog at the Murgon Show grounds from 7am onwards. Special guest athletes, ex-NRL player Petero Civoniceva and track athletes Larissa Chambers and Shannon McCann led the runners through a series of warm-up exercises. Ration Shed Museum management committee member Bevan Costello launched the day with a Welcome To Country and a prayer. The race started at 8:00am. Some people sprinted, other strolled, some pushed prams and wheelchairs along the 7 kilometre stretch.

A big crowd gathered at Ration Shed Museum near the finish line. Andrew Cross from Nanango was the first to cross the finish line. Everyone who ran or walked was cheered and celebrated.

There was dancing and live music, face painting and children’s games, a sausage sizzle and market stalls. Families gathered and friends met and chatted. The Ration Shed Museum was extremely pleased with the results and so grateful for all the wonderful support. Aunty Sandra Morgan summed it up when she said, “It has been a hot, long road … but today seeing you all here and seeing all the effort put in and all the volunteers and the beautiful spirit of the event, my heart is filled with happiness.

The Ration Shed Museum wishes to thank our major sponsors for the 2016 Reconciliation Fun Run. Their generous support enables the Reconciliation Fun Run to be such a successful event, creating a positive impact across the whole region. We gratefully acknowledge the following organisations for their significant contributions, not only for this year’s Fun Run but also to our previous events. Their continuing sponsorship is highly valued by the Ration Shed and our Friends:-

Stronger Smarter Institute Ltd, Caboolture Qld

Dick Smith Foods, NSW

Darling Downs Health and Hospital Service, Toowoomba, Qld

Creative Tracks, Brisbane, Qld

Stepping Black Indigenous Corp, Hervey Bay, Qld

Thanks to Ann Miller (South Burnett Online) for some of the photographs.

See list of prize winners below:

PRIZE WINNERS