Volunteers will be the backbone of Beaudesert’s long-awaited weekly parkrun event.
Jeune Park parkrun – the name given to Beaudesert’s official parkrun – has recorded strong participation numbers since it launched in late April.
Organisers are praising their small but dedicated team of volunteers for the event’s success and encouraging other locals to get involved, too.
Volunteer at parkrun
When Beaudesert launched Australia’s 500th parkrun, at least 19 volunteers from near and far stepped up to the plate.
The official inaugural volunteers were Allison Lee, Jo Jones, Karen and Rick Gillow, Kristine Tracey, Lachlan and Maddison Waugh, Maree and Robert Houston, Maureen Bernard, Maureen Brown, Melissa Frazer, Rae Taylor, Rebecca O’Hara, Shannon Stevenson, Shelly Currie, Simon Mackley, Vince McKillop and Zac Cunningham.
Neil Engel donned a volunteer vest on the day, too.
They saw 181 people run, walk and jog the 5km ‘Jeune Park parkrun’ behind Spring Creek estate.
That day had been nearly a decade in the making since locals Mel Frazer and Shelly Currie, who are now the Event Directors, first tried to get a local parkrun in 2015.
Mel said it was an incredible feeling to finally have a local parkrun.
“We really are attracting people from all over the place and thankfully have been blessed with a group of amazing regular volunteers,” she said.
“I actually love how everyone is so happy. It starts the Saturday off really well.”
Shelly said volunteering was a great way to get involved.
“We are currently looking for Saturday morning superstars to join our volunteer roster. You can volunteer as little or as much as you like. It’s a great way to meet people, encourage others, have fun and become a part of an awesome community,” she said.
“We’ve an amazing response not just from local community members but tourists as well. It’s been awesome and we look forward to seeing it grow over the coming years.
“Once again, we thank Spring Creek Development and Scenic Rim Regional Council for all of their support to help bring parkrun to Beaudesert.”
The global parkrun movement started in 2004 in Bushy Park, Teddington, UK.
It started with 13 runners and five volunteers and has grown to more than nine million parkrunners around the world.
Beaudesert’s Jeune Park course starts adjacent to Lions Bicentennial Park and is two laps, anticlockwise following the edge of the park, running south towards Spring Creek estate, veering left at the end of the park, then beside Spring Creek before running along the fence of Lions Bicentennial to the start line and continuing for another lap.
Organisers are now looking to bolster their team of volunteers.
Volunteers can put their hand up as much or as little as they would like, and opportunities will be on average once every 4 to 6 weeks from 6.30am to 8.30am Saturdays.
Volunteering includes roles like run director, event day course check, marshals, tail walkers, timekeeper, photographer and barcode scanning.
The local parkrun is on at 7am every Saturday, participation is free and people of all ages and abilities are welcome to participate by running, jogging, walking or volunteering.
Dogs are allowed if kept on a hand held non-retractable leash, prams can be used and children under 11 must be with an adult at all times.
To volunteer or for more information, email jeaunepark@parkrun.com , visit https://www.parkrun.com.au/jeunepark/ and follow Jeune Park parkrun on Facebook.
