19/09/2026
Event #104 19-09-2026
What a great turnout for our 2nd Birthday. For a full rundown of today's results follow this link or view them on our website: https://www.parkrun.com.au/oldeskrailwaystation/results/2026-09-19/ Aaron certainly gave the course record a fair crack but missed out by a small margin.
Some stats about our parkrun event:
Events: 104
Finishers: 2,795
Finishes: 6,109
Volunteers: 263
PBs: 918
Average finish time: 00:37:40
Groups: 189
Stats last updated: Sat 19 Sep 2026 01:31:35 UTC
What the statistics don't show you is the community that IS parkrun. Sue Anthony-Smith (our motivator & instigator) worked with Somerset Regional Council and QCWA Esk Branch to establish our local parkrun in 2024. With sponsorship from Rosi Trencher, Brisbane Valley Rail Trail Users Association Inc and local businesses: Brisbane Valley Roasters Esk Grand Hotel Esk Caravan Park we were up and running in less than 12 months. Apologies to any of our early sponsors that I may have missed. We are so grateful for your support.
Sue, together with Katrina Crook ( Run Director & Event Director), gathered a core group of local volunteers to hold the weekly parkrun events. Over the 2 years, individual vollies have come & gone, but remain the lifeblood of our weekly event. It has been encouraging to see people hesitantly take on a volunteer role and try out other roles as they grow in confidence . It is wonderful to see so many of our younger participants willing to try their hand at volunteering. Succession planning at it's best.
In the first 12 months, the majority of our participants were from away. Parkrun tourism is REAL. Esk Country Market stall holders, local cafes, accommodation venues and other local businesses tell us they can all tell when parkrun if finished by the swell in patronage.
Our goal in the second 12 months has been to build our local numbers. Now, most Saturdays we have a regular field of people both local and those who come back. The support everyone gives to one another is another reason parkrun is so rewarding. It doesn't matter if you walk, jog, run or volunteer or your age or ability, everyone is welcome and belongs.
We have established a name as a very friendly parkrun. That doesn't just happen. It about greeting one another, whether from here or away, finding out where they are from and encouraging their efforts.- whether they are walking, jogging, running or volunteering. Seeing progress - be it achieving a PB, growth in confidence, just getting out of bed and coming along, taking on a volunteer role, turning up each saturday morning either for you, or to connect with others, or just to be out in some fresh air and nature is at the core of what parkrun is all about.
In our 3rd year, we hope to build our numbers and upskill others to try some of the volunteer roles.
Special thanks today to:
🌟Liz Kelleher for her intricately painted celebration rocks. They were a HUGE hit.
🌟Juliet Brooker - for the delicious gluten free cake. A welcome tasty treat befitting our birthday event.
🌟G's Lane Esk for the stunning arrangement of flowers
🌟Alan and Roisin Burrell, our parkrun Event Ambassadors for coming out from Wynnum to celebrate with us.
🌟The phantom chalkers - who left surprise birthday messages for us at the start line.
🌟Beth & Terry Addison Smith who had signs made for our birthday theme
🌟Mafi Kefu & Ellen Chiu for taking the photos.
🌟Everyone who dressed up in theme.🌟 our volunteers and our participants.
To our very first time parkrunners, cake after parkrun is not a weekly occurrence😆
Thank you for joining us and we hope to see you back again soon.
Catherine - RD.
Sammy Gollschewski Rosi Trencher Experience Somerset
