A bit of history

As the first year of DTR’s incorporation comes to an end, I would like to reflect on the journey and what the future might hold.

About 6 years ago, our Sunday running group decided to separate into 2 groups, as the number of runners was getting bigger, around 30, and the difference in speeds between the runners  growing. COVID lockdowns came and went. Even though we couldn’t run together during these times, connections stayed strong.

Post COVID, the number of runners just kept growing. Organising the runs became more complex and there were concerns around legal liability. The 14k group was  established and soon after the 8k group. There was an ad-hoc structure in place to manage the growth and the runs, but nothing formal.

Around the same time there was talk about a more formal structure for DTR. There were several reasons for this, including:

• Ensuring we had a sustainable club for our runs: Other clubs in a similar position to DTR had folded
• Legal liability insurance: Our run leaders needed to be protected
• Building the community: Having a formal club that people can belong to strengthens our values
• Having a presence and home base at events

From there the committee was formed and through hard work we become incorporated. Sounds easy but there were many catchups, adapting a constitution, several regulations to go through, forms to fill out and lots of other little things.

So now here we are.

Values

Our values were put together not long after DTR started. They are still appropriate today.

• Fun – Having runs that take in the best part of the Dandenongs. Fun single trails, running through mud, hearing lyrebirds and having a laugh with someone
• Friendship – Personal connections, social outings, catching up for coffee
• Fitness – Challenging yourself with events and Sunday runs that would frighten many people

Some Stats

(to June 2024 with a bit of creative licence)

• On average 58 people on Sunday runs and 12 on Thursday runs
• Five Sunday groups (8, 14 and 3 x 20k groups), and 12k Thursday running group
• 67,820 km travelled by runners on Sunday and Thursday. That is a bit over 1 and a half times around the world
• 35 run leaders
• Over 150 signed up members, 4,500 Facebook members

Benefits

DTR has delivered many benefits to our members:

• The marquee – provides a place to belong
• Discounts – on events, products and services
• Social events – Christmas, Christmas in July, coffee and cake after a run
  • And who can forget that aid station that Julie setup on that hot summer day
• First aid training and kits
• Self-defence course
• Run Level 1 coaching courses – coming up in August
• Training courses – with more coming this year
• Legal liability insurance – which has led to more people volunteering to be run leaders
• Individual insurance for paid up members through Athletics Victoria
• A place to live our values

Thanks to the Committee

I would like to thank the committee for their work this year. We are all volunteers with a passion to  help DTR become a place where we all want to belong. We meet 6 times a year, with 2 face-to-face meetings

So who are we:

• President – John Csorgo
• Vice-President Chris Nichols
• Secretary – Karena West
• Treasurer – Julie Azzopardi
• Run Leader – Warwick King
• Membership – Geoff Markley
• Social – Penny Gosling
• Honorary Member – Peter Mitchell

A big thank you to Kez MacTaggart, Annie Darcy and Jason Rawlings who were part of the original committee.

Lastly

This is your club and I speak on behalf of the committee when I say we are proud to be part of it and  continue to see DTR thrive.

Run often. Run long. But never outrun your joy of running