Lumary City-Bay Fun Run takes NAIDOC Week outback detour

Kaurna place names will be adopted along the route of Adelaide’s favourite fun run, as the event announces it also plans to branch out for NAIDOC Week.

After being a victim of Covid for the past two years, the Lumary City-Bay Fun Run is back – and forging a new path.

The famous fun run, which has been racing through the city to Glenelg for 50 years, will hold a satellite event in remote South Australia for the first time.

The race – to be particularly aimed at members of Aboriginal communities, according to race director Joe Stevens – is one of several initiatives announced during NAIDOC Week last week.

With tens of thousands of people expected to line up for the return of the event on September 18, Mr Stevens said talks were under way to hold at least one remote run, with coaches, a 3km event and medals.

The City-Bay, presented by the Sunday Mail, also announced a traditional smoking ceremony to be held before the race start, and installation of Kaurna place names along the route to Glenelg.

“The Lumary City-Bay Fun Run is iconic,’’ Mr Stevens said.

“Few events have the same potential to unify a state, involve communities and families, and promote health and wellbeing, inclusion, positivity and community spirit.

“It will be a carnival and celebration in one – a stadium experience from start to finish.”

Temaana Sanderson-Bromley is a young athletics coach at Port Adelaide who works with Aboriginal athletes. Picture: Dean Martin

Mr Stevens acknowledged the work of organisations working with young Aboriginal athletes, including the Port Adelaide Athletics Club, which has taken a leading role with coaches such as Temaana Sanderson-Bromley.

Mr Sanderson-Bromley said athletics was a lifelong sport with excellent role models and pathways for young Indigenous people.

“A lot of Aboriginal kids go towards footy and netball, which is good, but athletics is a great option to improve skills for those sports and as a sport on its own,” he said.

“It is an individual sport, where you try to achieve your personal bests but you also get to be part of a squad, so the team aspect is there, too. It is a sport you can be involved with for life.”

Mr Sanderson-Bromley said the club’s four Aboriginal coaches were crucial to its success, not only on the field but being able to relate to young Indigenous people beyond sports issues.

Another organisation is the Kanku-Breakaways Conservation Park Co-management Board at Coober Pedy, which uses running to raise awareness of the cultural connection of Aboriginal people to the area.

Each May, it stages one of the country’s most unique multi-distance fun runs, taking in part of the dog fence and spectacular “moonscape” views of the Breakaways.

The Lumary City-Bay Fun Run, presented by the Sunday Mail, is on September 18. Entrants can run or walk either 3km, 6km or 12km, or run a half marathon. Entrants can also sign up to raise money for a charity as part of their participation in the event. Registrations are now open and free training sessions are held weekly at various locations, see city-bay.org.au