ON Saturday mornings at Limestone Park, runners and walkers may be the most visible part of the weekly parkrun, but behind the scenes a dedicated team of volunteers is keeping the free community event alive.
After years of post-pandemic disruption, Ipswich parkrun has seen a resurgence in volunteers, bucking the national trend of declining participation in volunteering.
Like many community groups, the event has struggled in the years following the Covid-19 pandemic, with volunteer numbers dipping, said Ipswich parkrun director Tom Anderson said.
“Covid did disrupt things a lot,” Mr Anderson said. “People wanted to participate rather than volunteer, and the health risks around volunteering also contributed to a slump.
“We lost a core of volunteers, and the flow of our usual support was disrupted.”
However, the start of this year has brought a significant turnaround.
“We’ve really picked up healthy numbers again,” Mr Anderson said.
“Part of that has been a focus on celebrating our volunteers.
“They’re now recognised at the event and we’ve introduced milestones for volunteering, similar to the milestones for participating in 100 or 250 runs. It’s really become something people value.”
Parkrun operates on a simple model – a free, weekly 5km run or walk open to people of all ages and abilities – but it relies entirely on volunteers to function safely.
Roles range from timekeepers and barcode scanners to course marshals and tail walkers, guiding participants along the course and recording results.
“We’ve had over 200 participants every week this year, even in bad weather,” Mr Anderson said.
“More participants means a larger pool of potential volunteers, and we encourage everyone who participates to volunteer.”
Parkrun has also made volunteering flexible, with the event continuing to appeal for its unique sense of community.
“People from all walks of life, different ages and fitness levels, come together,” Mr Anderson said.
“From young kids to people approaching their 90s, it creates a real sense of camaraderie. You get that feeling of achievement and connection, and it’s a positive way to start the weekend.”
Participants say the event’s welcoming culture plays a major role. Unlike traditional races, parkrun encourages runners, walkers, families with prams, and even people bringing their dogs to take part together.
“It’s rewarding to know our approach is building a community in itself,” Mr Anderson said.
As Ipswich continues to grow and attract new residents, the Saturday morning run is becoming more than just a fitness event – it is a weekly community gathering.
The improvement is particularly notable because volunteering across the country is facing significant challenges.
Recent research from the State of Volunteering report found participation has dropped by around 10 per cent in recent years, even as demand for community services continues to grow.
Those pressures have been formally acknowledged at state level, with the Queensland Government backing a major parliamentary inquiry into volunteering.
