4 days ago
Long run helps strengthen ties between Burringurrah's kids and police
Children and police officers in the small community of Burringurrah were not just blowing off steam as they kicked up the red dirt around the town oval.
They were forging relationships that would hopefully change lives.
For the third year, officers and children in the remote community, 1,000 kilometres north of Perth in Western Australia's Gascoyne, have spent most of May running laps of their sports ground for the Run4Blue initiative.
The "virtual race" is held across the country at the same time each year, with participants nominating their own distance to run.
It became part of the calendar thanks to Burringurrah police officer Colin Sibson and his wife, Glenda, a teacher in the community, when they first moved to the town.
"Run4Blue approached us and asked us if we would be interested in participating," Ms Sibson said.
"Colin put his hand up straight away and said, 'Yes, count us in.'
"We didn't know how it was going to look and then, just stage by stage, we came up with this concept of doing the virtual run."
The couple also saw it as a chance to strengthen relationships within the community.
"The families can see they have the kids' best interests at heart," Ms Sibson said.
"I think that has stemmed on to the adults as well."
Burringurrah's virtual race covers 40km, the distance from the school to Landor Race Track.
Children attended a celebration camp under the stars when the milestone was reached.
A Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions representative and members of the Pilbara's Australian Defence Force (ADF) Regiment joined police for the last day at Burringurrah, and during the camp.
Running laps and kicking a footy was something many of the local children looked forward to each day.
Stanley, 13, said he was less scared of police than he used to be.
"We didn't know them at first," he said.
"Then the more we did [sports] with them, we started getting used to them."
Senior Sergeant Sibson said building relationships with the children was immeasurably helpful.
"It's just been a really good way to talk to the school, get to know what the kids are talking about, get to know what their parents are dealing with," he said.
Sergeant Robert Brock, who led the defence force personnel involved in the camp, said the soldiers and children found the experience inspiring.
"We're keen to keep that relationship going," he said.
"Who knows? Maybe in the future one of them might want to join the army, but if not, we've just got a whole bunch more friends out here."
It was not just the children who benefited.
At the camp, Burringurrah man Stanley Hill and Sergeant Brock had a laugh and a catch-up.
Mr Hill said he took pride in supporting others in the community.
"Maybe you carry out hunting together and laugh together," he said.
Sergeant Brock said relationships with the Burringurrah community helped the ADF do its job better.
"You can learn lots of things about bush tucker from a book, but going out on country with people who intimately know those things, it was just so good," he said.
"It helps us relate to people and relate to country.
"There was another dimension to the landscape as well, because they're telling us about the dreaming story behind Mount Augustus itself."
