WICEN were there again to provide emergency and logistical communications support for the Rosebud Australia Day Fun Run 2020 https://www.ausdayfunrun.com.au Catering for a wide range of competitors, the Aus Day Fun Run has two start points. For the more dedicated runners there is a 10km run which starts at Safety Beach; the second start point is a 5.3km Run/Walk aimed at children and families. Both events take you along the foreshore bay trail and finish at the Village Green in Rosebud.
For WICEN this is a relatively easy event, as the course runs along the foreshore bay trail for 10kms. WICEN operators are spread along the course at predetermined locations such as the the start, finish and the various drink stations along the route. However, this year we were also able to have an operator on a bicycle as a sweep.
Communications was primarily via the use of a handheld to a cross band radio to local repeater setup. While it tested well the day before, on the day there were a few minor issues, making communications not quite perfect. However, this didn’t affect our ability to complete the task. Some good discussion was held post event on how next year we can improve the radio infrastructure that was put in place.
On a brighter note, the event was incident free, with minimal radio traffic apart from the required. Each year the organisers are making the event better, with the cooperation of all the various volunteers that each year come to support it. Funds raised from the day support local sporting and community groups whose members volunteer their time each year to run this fantastic event. With such a turn out of volunteers and close to two thousand runners it’s no wonder this event continues to get bigger and better.
