Australian Industry Trade College students and teachers volunteer at Toowoomba Marathon

Runners from across Queensland and interstate will lace up in Toowoomba this weekend, as dozens of roads are set to be closed for the major event that has seen accommodation providers booked out.

Australian Industry Trade College students (from left) Sam Wickham, Emily Gale and Emilie Coleman will volunteer at Toowoomba Marathon, Thursday, May 2, 2024. Picture: Kevin Farmer

A 17-year-old chippie-to-be has rallied up her classmates and a couple of teachers to volunteer at the Toowoomba Marathon, where they will be passing out water to thirsty runners.

The event presented by Wellcamp Airport, which makes its long-awaited return on Sunday, will see thousands of interstate and local runners take on distances of 2km, 5km, 10km, 21km and 42km, has also provided an economic boon to the city’s accommodation providers.

For Emilie Coleman, who studies carpentry at the Australian Industry Trade College, she admits she is no marathon runner, however she’s more than excited to be part of the action at the major event.

“Just don’t give up, just keep pushing yourself and have fun” was the advice from Ms Coleman and her classmates, Emily Gale (16) and Sam Wickham (16) to anyone training up for the run this Sunday.

Di Tumbridge and Katherine May, both teachers at the college, have also put up their hand to help out and said it was important to the college to encourage community volunteer work.

Toowoomba Marathon volunteers (from left) Di Tumbridge, Sam Wickham, Emily Gale, Emilie Coleman and Katherine May from Australian Industry Trade College, Thursday, May 2, 2024. Picture: Kevin Farmer

For the last five years, the college has built ties with New Hope, an organisation in Siem Reap, Cambodia, and once a year send a group of students and tradies over to help build houses for families.

Emilie Coleman and Sam Wickham will both head over there at the end of the year.

Recognising their generosity, the Marathon has donated funds towards their trip, completing a neat marathon cycle of giving.

On Sunday more almost 2000 runners are expected to hit the streets for the Toowoomba Marathon, presented by Wellcamp Airport.

Hotels, motels and airbnbs have reportedly filled up, with booking.com showing 97 per cent of places are unavailable.

A number of roads will be closed throughout the event on Sunday between 3am and 1.15pm.

Full list of street closures

Prince Henry Heights

From Bridge Street 5am – 9.45am

Bridge Street: Dudley Street to Prince Henry Drive 5am – 12.45pm

East Toowoomba

Dudley Street: Bridge Street to Campbell Street 5am – 1pm

Campbell Street: Dudley Street to Lindsay Street 4.30am – 1.15pm

Lindsay Street: Bridge Street to Campbell Street 4.30am – 12:30pm

Lindsay Street: Campbell Street to Margaret Street 3.30am – 1.15pm

Hawthorne Street 4:00am – 1.15pm

Arthur Street 3.30am – 1.15pm

Margaret Street: Mary Street to Hume Street 4am – 12.25pm

Kitchener Street: Margaret Street to James Street 4am – 6.45am

James Street Intersection on Kitchener Street 4am – 6.35am

South Toowoomba

Kitchener Street: James Street to Perth Street 4am – 7am

Rangeville

Perth Street: Kitchener Street to Tourist Road 4.30am – 7:15am

Tourist Road: Perth Street to Long Street 4.30am – 7.15am

Tourist Road: Long Street to Tobruk Memorial Drive 4.30am – 11.15am

Tobruk Memorial Drive 4.30am – 11.15am

Long Street: Tourist Road to MacKenzie Street 4.30am – 11.30am

Centenary Heights

Long Street: MacKenzie Street to Ramsay Street 4.30am – 11:45am

South Toowoomba

Long Street: Ramsay Street to Bashford Street 4.30am – 12pm

Bashford Street: Long Street to Stephen Street 4.30am – 12pm

Stephen Street: Pechey Street to Water Street 4.30am – 12pm

Ruthven Street: James Street to Long Street 4.30am – 12pm

Toowoomba City

Herries Street: Dent Street to Ruthven Street 4am – 12.15pm

Ruthven Street: Herries Street to Margaret Street 4am – 12.15pm

Margaret Street: Ruthven Street to Hume Street 4am – 12.15pm