Chalice provided funding to support the launch of the inaugural Newcastle Park parkrun event in Toodyay. parkrun is a free community event in which participants walk, jog or run a 5km route every Saturday to foster community inclusiveness and wellbeing.
A tireless team of community volunteers supported this initiative alongside the Shire of Toodyay to plan and set up a route through Toodyay. One of the more scenic parkrun routes, the Newcastle park parkrun takes participants over waterways, through parks and bush. Several runners have come from other parkrun clubs as far as Albany, Moora and Rockingham to join the group and some local and interstate participants have also joined when in town.
Since their first event in February 2023 the Newcastle Park parkrun and their team of 69 committed volunteers have continued to make the event happen each week with an average of 52 finishers each time and participants ranging from 4-79 years of age, the event has helped to build a new sense of community and connection.
The local community has embraced the event, with feedback that parkrun promotes a healthy lifestyle and provides an opportunity to connect with likeminded people while enjoying the scenic nature track.