Perth to Sydney Ultramarathon

Posted 8:57:57 PM by Don
With drizzle forecast, not even the odd drop could dampen Wednesday March 13th which served as the conclusion of a journey. This journey had seen a total of nine individuals support a young man?s dream, and a cosmopolitan team witness the beauty and harsh nature of a countryside that deserves more patrons.

Upon final tally I find that we ran 50km further than planned, with a total of 3978km from Cottesloe to Bondi Beach. The 3956km from Perth to Sydney was covered in 66.985 days at an average of 59.988km per day.

Below is a transcript of the proceedings that occurred at the Sydney Opera House, upon the run?s conclusion.

Ian Kiernan OA (MC): ?Every day I am more and more impressed by the efforts of young Australians within our community. That?s been further proven again today with this fine young bloke achieving something amazing, running all the way from Perth to Sydney for the benefit of The Hollows Foundation. I really like the connection between sport and charity and Fred Hollows was certainly a hero of mine. When you see that what has happened today in that Don has already raised $17500 with the goal of raising $25000 for The Hollows Foundation you can?t help but be impressed. I think that needs some applause. What that represents is 1000 eye operations. These operations will make an incredible difference to the recipients. So again Don, I?d like to ask you to come and say a few words and congratulations.?

Don Maclurcan: ?It is indeed my pleasure to be here today with so many friends that I?d like to thank and we?re going to get to that? We?re going to have a few other speeches first but I?ll just say a few words. It?s been an incredible journey for myself and my total of nine crew. It?s been unforgettable. The lessons we have learnt are going to hold us in good stead for the rest of our lives. And it just makes it all the more important that you are here to share that with us today. But now I?d like to invite Gabi Hollows, founding director of The Hollows Foundation, to say a few words.?

Gabi: ?Well welcome Donald, I think it is the just most outstanding achievement. I think a lot of us have driven across that Nullabor and been to Western Australia and you just can?t have any concept about how far away it is.?

Don: ?I do!?

Gabi: ?They can?t but I was just about to say that Donald, I know that you do. I just want to ask what are you going to do tomorrow when you wake up? Will you want to keep running?
I think that if Fred was here today, I?m actually wearing an old shirt of his, he would be so, so thrilled that? he always had trouble putting one step in front of the other when he was running, so I know that he was probably up there on your shoulder all the time. And congratulations it?s fantastic.?

Ian: ?Thankyou Gabi and I?m just so impressed that Gabi has chosen to carry on the wonderful work for which Fred had the original idea.

It is now my pleasure to invite Justice John Kearney, esteemed former Supreme Court Judge to speak on behalf of St Aloysius? College. Please welcome the judge.?

Justice John Kearney: ?Welcome home Donald. The school council of your old school, St Aloysius? College over the water here at Milson?s Point congratulates you most enthusiastically on this great triumph. In particular we proclaim your spirit which inspired the whole project. We also acclaim your tenacity, both physical and mental which has produced this monumental achievement. We at the college are immensely proud of you. You?re our hero.?

Ian: ?I?d now like to ask crew member Justin Vandeventer to say a few words.?

Justin: ?Well done. I believe that you asked the crew when we?d stop calling you boy. I believe the time has come. You started this off as a young boy and finished as a man. Well done.?

Ian: ?The next speaker is Andrew McMillan.?

Andrew: ??Ok log that off?. Music off. Alright we?ve got a lot to do this lunchbreak, so keep it efficient. Sophie I need you to find the internet and try to line up some showers. Macca I need you to go to the supermarket. We need a bit more pasta, mayonnaise and a box of coco pops. Amanda I need some socks washed and if you can go to the radio station and T.V. stations or anything else..??

Don: ?Please!?

Andrew: ??After that?s done guys we need to set ourselves up in a good spot to do some fundraising. Let?s get some money for The Fred Hollows Foundation. O.K. Now where?s that lunch, it smells good, let?s go??
This has been the typical lunch for us for the last two months or so - that is when we?ve been in civilisation.

Throughout the whole run Don had nine people crew for him and we didn?t know each other before the start, but we?ve come together to work as a unit to support the common goals, those being to help Don get across Australia whilst raising some funds for The Fred Hollows Foundation.

There were a few problems in the van? Don and I often joked about how a T.V. series could be made with the aid of some hidden cameras and microphones, not unlike something that?s been done before. After all, living in confined quarters with limited free time can easily make stress boil over.
But we were presented with challenges that we overcame. Amanda finally accepted my decision not to join in roadside yoga. Sophie eventually started to not use the word dude in every phrase. There were plenty of other issues and emotional turmoil but we got through.

The weeks when the crew consisted of just Amanda, Sophie and I were educational for me, as must have been the weeks when Sophie had to put up with three or four other guys and plenty of ego.

We crew were lucky to have been able to spend more time chatting to some of the decent people that kindly pulled over for us. Amanda was particularly excited by a pig and citrus farmer who started conversing about the yin and yang, whilst Peter Blake, one of our crew members for a week or too, couldn?t get over the touring elderly couple who pulled out an electrified tennis racquet for swatting the swarms of flies that constantly plagued us!

I was running along with Don one day and he said to me, ?Macca, I don?t feel I owe you for what you?ve done.? And so he shouldn?t because although we?ve given to this run, we will take a great deal from this experience.

The crew have been blessed to have seen the sights we?ve seen, met the people we?ve met and been so closely involved with someone so inspirational. We?ve no excuse for laxity or inaction after seeing firsthand what can be achieved by belief, dedication and persistence. Despite earlier criticism Don?s overcome physical odds by way of a huge heart and a strong mind. It?s been a pleasure to be crew for the ?See Australia? Run and something we?ll take with us always. On behalf of all the crew, thankyou Don.?

Ian: ?Thankyou Andrew. I thought it just great to hear some of the personal anecdotes from these young Australians who have achieved this incredible adventure.
The guy you really want to hear from is Don Maclurcan, please give him a big welcome.?

Don: ?After staring at a white line for 792 hours I?d want to have thought of something good to say. The thing was that after 3928km I still failed to know what to say to people pulled over. I didn?t know if they had pulled over for us, they were broken down or had just stopped to look at the grass. When I was running along in the Nullabor and people had pulled over I?d say ?G?day?, but it just didn?t seem appropriate so I settled on, ?Are you alright?? People would return an incredulous stare and, whilst tapping their heads say, ?are you alright???

About two weeks ago Andrew told a beautiful story about a bloke called Marty who pulled off the road just before Renmark, in eastern NSW. "A quiet, unassuming, and genuinely kind-hearted man, Marty had had a rough trot - he?d been cruising around the area looking for work on farms, a bit of fruit picking here and there, etc. Only last week he was beaten and had his wallet and phone taken, but still he managed to give us what he could, possibly more. After a chat we had to move on to get to the next aid stop and I thanked him once again for his generosity. The way he said ?my pleasure? could not be repeated (even though I just did), he was so stoked to have been able to contribute, however Marty was an example of the people that, though amazed by what we were doing, give us our inspiration."

Over the past six months there has been a shift. The emphasis of this run has progressed from personal ambition to a community onus. This being to support a practical charity and the positive messages streamed through this run. This shift does signify progression, for the sooner personal ambition dissolves into community ambition the sooner world equality will take a step in the right direction.

But you see I can make statements that appear to represent a good social concience, knowing fully well that when I step down from here I will get a good pat on the back and accolades will come my way. But it?s not about me. I tell you honestly that the recognition of my achievements is not half as satisfying as the recognising, by others, through our work, of their societal responsibilities.

If Fred were present he would undoubtedly concur that the real work begins now. And radio presenters have been asking me, ?what are you going to do now? Put your feet up and have a beer?? And I think that?s the wrong attitude to take. Sure the run?s over but now the bar?s been raised. Let?s take this example of determination where something can succeed if you really put your mind to it and intertwine, as mentioned, our personal ambition with community effort. Because we all hear the communities? pleas and although they sound small they mean a great deal to a large number of people. Through the run I have consolidated and confirmed many thoughts and now it is time to act.

I have great pleasure in announcing that we have raised, through traceable funds, $19326.45, and as Ian mentioned that could restore vision to as many as 771 individuals. When you consider that four years after contracting cataract blindness, the average African dies, you realise we give back more than sight.

You see (this is a little quote I devised on the run):
?Everybody has royal visions.
Anybody can challenge and defeat the illusion of the insurmountable. Yet it is in chancing the initial steps, and weathering the process that one becomes a somebody.?

Without certain people this run would, still have happened but I?d still be on the highway, in more pain and wondering if Sydney was just a dream.

So I?ll start my thanks with the sponsors and really, sponsors are the people who get behind you when you have very little to offer. It is not easy for a company to consider a proposal by a young man who wishes to run across Australia. And these sponsors demonstrated a great deal of faith through their support.

And I?d like to thank:
Michael Horn and Norman Rowe and KEA CAMPERS for providing such a fantastic vehicle - so comfortable and so reliable; Sam Chew and ASICS Tiger for all the running clothing for all the gear with which they provided me; Arabella Gibson and RM WILLIAMS for the official crew shirts; Dennis Casper and BERNYS HI FI AND VIDEO for the hire of a video camera that has recorded and documented such a fantastic run; Vince Lombardo and RUDY PROJECT for all my sunglasses; Tony Baer and MIO for the world?s first, revolutionary heart rate monitor on a wristwatch that was put to great use; Meg Gardiner and the Cremorne pharmacy for both her advice and products that kept me in such good shape along the run; Leanne Harrison and Sodastream Australia; Vasilli Karellas at IGA supermarket Cremorne; Robert Roughton at Australian Motor Components; Steve Corcoran and Cooltek Coolwear; David Patinson and Eveready Energiser; Bob Bucknell and Advanced Nutritional Foods; Ori de Fina and Reviva.
Steve Shinas and GALAXY FOODS; Jim Carew and ITS Communications for the use of a satellite phone; Glenn Martin at QANTAS; The Saba family at Swisse Vitamins; Michael Jools from Surface Tension for the crew shirts

Special thanks too, to a bloke called Mike Allbutt and Ozewebhost, who are situated in Tasmania. I found Mike on the web and he offered to do the site in conjunction with my design and it has been such a good source of news for people around the world as well as a means by which people could donate.

Then you come to my crew. I did this last year as crew for 24 runners who crossed Australia and so I guess I could tell you how difficult it is for crew. Having acted in both positions, taking the preparation aside, I believe it is as difficult to crew, if not more. The crew work longer hours, the runner gets to call the shots and the crew just have to bite their lips over any dubious decisions.

So I?d like to thank these people specifically, and if they can come up as they are called:

Sophie Brabenec, who was with us for over seven weeks of the trip. Sophie?s a Melbourne girl studying massage therapy and it was her immediate, positive response to my searching for crew, upon returning from three years of travel, at a time when I?m sure she was looking forward to seeing friends and family, that really impressed me. This commitment continued and her service was invaluable. Then Andrew McMillan, who, until my marriage, will be my best mate. Andrew?s just unbelievable. Macca you meant everything to me through this run. I?ll move on from Macca before I get too teary. Then I?d like to thank Amanda Wright who, like Sophie, was travelling when she received the message giving up time to come join our rabble for five weeks. Chris Arnold, from Britain, who isn?t with us today. Chris and I crewed for the run across Australia last year and I?d like to thank him for taking the time from a new job to join us. Guy Weress who was in my class at school with Cam. It was all the more important to have as many Aloy?s boys along and Guy was there for the initial period. Dave Slatter, who came on a whim, giving up work. It was such a good effort for these people to give up that much time ? it?s a huge commitment. Justin VanDeventer. The old bloke on the trip. A classic who brought the neccessary ingredients to an unfinished soup. It was fascinating to have someone along who could teach me about Apparthied and other interesting issues, making it a more wholesome experience. Thanks to Peter Blake who made the trip out from Perth on short notice, leaving family and friends to support the run for two weeks. Also thanks to Mary Brabenec and Liz Fitgerald for travelling from Melbourne to Mildura to join us for a few days.

To those who helped along the way: The Regional Radio Bureau; Local swimming pools; Telecentres (WA and SA) that were particularly welcoming; Mundrabilla Roadhouse and I suggest you jump in there, the petrol?s ten cents cheaper; Sgt Peter Moy and Phil Halliday with the WA Police Force; The SA Police; Michelle Thatcher and Sara at NSW Police; The Sydney Opera House Trust for the use of the facility today and the Australian Order of Ol' Bastards who donated $500 along the road.
Thankyou.

Specifically: James and Maud Pearson for their accomodation whilst in Perth. To Peter and Bev Blake for assistance in preparation prior to the start; Sam and Di Cross in Mildura; Katrina King in Kimba and Luke and Carol Mulley, Luke having run with me for 8 hours.

At The Fred Hollows Foundation: Ros Bradley whose initial work helped launch the concept; Sharon Kelly who took over the role of media co-ordinator. And of course Gabi Hollows for her continual support.

With Year Of The Outback: Bruce Campbell, whose visit for lunch on New Years Eve was an eye-opener to the aims of the year and the possibility for us to integrate promotion; Fiona Campbell-Maybury and
Susan

Then ?See Australia?, the Australian tourism initiative, the final initiative that we supported - Kate Wivell there.

regarding RADIO & TV. Thanks to all the 50 radio, 10 T.V stations and 35 newspapers that covered the event inparticularly: John Stanley at 2UE; Peter Greco at 5RPH; Barbera Morrison at 2SER; Ainslie Hodgkinson at ABC Radio Melbourne; David Kennedy at Radio 6KG Kalgoorlie and Charlie Edwards with WIN TV in Griffith.

To my Sydney support team: Dan Street; Trish Evans;
Perry Stone; Suzanne Weress; Tom Elkington; Harry and Tim Potter; Fr A.V Smith and The St Aloysius' College student representative council; Msgr Eugene Harley, Parish Priest, Sacred Heart Mosman; Susan Clifton and Marist Sacred Heart and Sandra Ward and the North Sydney Leagues Club. Thankyou.

From today: Ian Kiernan; Gabi Hollows; Justice Kearney; Justin and Andrew.

Thanks also to the many family and friends

A huge thanks to my Mum and just that classic quote from her to one of my mates, (mate) ?What do you think of your son?s run, Mrs Maclurcan?? (Mum) ?Well I don't support what the man?s doing but I still support the man.? That really epitomised the spirit with which Mum gave so much backing and experience to this run. Thanks too to Dad for paying the phone bills.

I have been priveleged as an ambassador of YOTO and the 'See Australia' tourism initiative. We are often told of how we live in a lucky country. But if being told is such a familiar feeling, why is it that driving in the countryside is not? It?s time to scale down committments and explore our great country because it will probably last, but will you?

The more I read about The Fred Hollow's Foundation the more I am amazed at the ability of a relatively small organisation to touch such a large group. It is the committed efforts of the FHF's staff and supporters that further the work of Fred whose sagacious understanding allowed the realisation that for people in need there was a practical solution. Practicality in the form of sustainability and self-sufficiency, it is the future for all charity organisations and I applaud the Foundation's pioneering initiative.

The last 67 days where the only two blisters to develop were on my thumb and index finger from sliding on shoes, has had very little to do with running. The road teaches you many lessons. You nourish and appreciate links with family and friends. You value every second more highly than ever before. The development of confidence and focus through this challenge has invigorated a strength and confirmed that our only limitations exist in the confines of our minds.

For although our days on Earth are limited, our capacity to make a difference is not.?

Most of the run from the Opera House to Bondi was completed alone, with the occasional company of my younger brother and sister. Arriving at the beach was a reflective moment. I ran in fully clothed and for the first time lay in utter peace. Stage one complete?

From the limestone Bunda cliffs in SA, to the picturesque towns like Crystal Brook, this has been one hell of an experience. I wouldn?t change anything if asked to do it again. Until next time ? thanks for all your encouraging support. In communal spirit, Don Maclurcan.