800 volunteer positions found in record time for GC600

THE annual GC600 is still some time away, but six weeks out from the big event a record has already been set — the race to fill volunteer positions.

GAMES Shapers have helped Gold Coast 600 organisers set a race record six weeks out from this year’s event.

The largest annual sporting event in Queensland, the GC600 will serve up three days of on-track action and a huge night of entertainment at Broadwater Parklands from October 19-21.

Get set, go! And … done, 800 volunteers later. Photo by Richard Gosling

While work to transform Surfers Paradise and Main Beach into a GC600’s scenic, 2.96km street circuit started this week, the search for volunteer event and race officials is already over.

Applications for the almost 800 available volunteer positions at this year’s GC600 have closed after they were filled in record time.

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Supercars spokesman Cole Hitchcock said organisers were swamped with submissions for the 780 volunteer places as either CAM-accredited race officials, including flag and fire marshals, and event officials, who don’t need previous experience, to work as gate keepers and information booth attendants.

Picture of Games Shaper Lizz Stephenson who has also volunteered for Supercars GC600 event. Photo by Richard Gosling

“They’re all filled,” he said.

“Normally it takes right up until race week to fill them all but this year, following on from the Commonwealth Games, we’ve filled them all six weeks out from the event.”

Lizz Stephenson, from Biggera Waters, was part of the volunteer army of more than 15,000 people, including more than 1500 medical volunteers, mobilised to work in a variety of roles leading up to and during the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in April.

“I loved it — absolutely loved it,” she said.

“I moved here five years ago from Ipswich and I love it but it’s hard to meet people down here. People tend to have the wall up until you’re personal with them.

“Working at the Games, I got to meet people.”

Ms Stephenson, who worked in the Games accreditation centre at Bundall, said she enjoyed her first-ever volunteer role so much, she volunteered for this year’s GC600.

Race volunteers receive concert access and a GA pass for a friend as part of their volunteers pack.

Picture of Games Shaper Lizz Stephenson. Photo by Richard Gosling

“They’ve got me down as an usher at a grandstand,” Ms Stephenson said.

“My partner’s pleased because he’ll get a free pass.”

Employment experts estimated the Games Shapers — 65 per cent of whom lived within an hour’s commute of the Coast — saved Games organisers a staggering $20 million and predicted their overwhelmingly positive experiences on the job would deliver flow-on benefits for other events.

The prediction appears to have rung true in the case of the GC600, which requires one of the largest volunteer workforces of any of the Supercars Championship events — the Sydney 300 race requires 300 volunteers while Townsville’s event enlists about 400.

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Mr Hitchcock said Supercars relied on the enthusiasm and eagerness of volunteers to fill roles in accreditation, corporate, timing, pit lane, recovery/fire, administration, supply, scrutineering, sign on, media and medical roles.

Supercars also awards and rewards volunteers with prizes including tickets to other events on its race calendar and collector’s edition watches.

While volunteer vacancies for this year’s Bathurst 1000 and GC600 events have been filled, applications are still open for workers for this weekend’s (September 14-16) Sandown 500 in Melbourne and the Newcastle 500 from November 23-25.

Applications for the Bathurst 12 Hour event from January 31 — February 3 open later this month.