Thousands of Australian local legends have started their journeys in carrying the Queen’s Baton in the lead up to the 2018 Commonwealth Games, which are set to be held on the Gold Coast from April 4 to 15. In February, however, two West Australian AURA members had an opportunity to carry the baton with pride and share their joys to the local communities in being part of such a prestigious event.
Shirley Treasure from Quinns Rock, WA was nominated by husband Ben (also an AURA member) for her dedication and passion to the sport of ultra running. Not only was she recognised for being the power behind starting a parkrun event in the suburb of Quinns Rock, but for the volunteer work she has put in at ultra events across the state.
Her opportunity to walk with the Baton was on Monday, February 26 in the morning.
Treasure said her nomination was for contribution to the community for inspiring local people to get out and exercise for mental and physical health, and has been known to inspire those in the running community to support everyone.
“When it comes to aid stations, I like to take over the big weekender-type event aid stations like WTF and 6 Inch, and we get to stay there overnight and have a whole lot of fun,” she says.
The husband and wife team have a tendency to set up aid stations at ultra running events, and be the instigators behind particular themes. At WTF, their aid station has every year been labelled Treasure Island and all volunteers are encouraged to come dressed as pirates.
Last year at December’s 6 Inch, the Treasures got most everyone in costumes to look like the elderly, creating quite a stir as participants raced down the hill towards that first aid station and the ‘elderly’ played golf with gumnuts or threw nanna tantrums as they stood with walking frames.
“It just goes to prove what a great community we are, when the volunteers try to make all the runners and participants laugh, you know, to remind them to have a great time,” she says.
“Runners are a truly amazing group of people, in particular ultra runners. As soon as you meet someone who is a runner, there is an instant connection there and it just clicks.”
Treasure says she and Ben love being AURA members because it’s their contribution back to the running community, and through the association they have met so many other runners from the eastern states.
“In our community, we’re all there to support each other no matter how fast or slow you are, and I just think for a sport as crazy as it is, there’s not that many of us when you compare it to other sports, and by bonding together in an organisation such as AURA, makes it, and us, more special.”
AURA member Gary Wilmot from Langford, WA was also nominated to walk in the Queen’s Baton Relay and did so on Saturday, February 24. He was recognised for running-walking 5,500kms across Australia in 2015 for the Hearts Across Australia initiative to raise awareness and promote good health after turning his life around from being an overweight smoker and drinker to a healthy long distance runner.
Pictured: Shirley Treasure carrying the Queens Baton on Monday, February 26. Photograph – Supplied.
Pictured Above Right: Shirley Treasure with baton bearer Number 9, Richard Furber who started a school for non-mainstream children. Photograph – Supplied.
