Joggers and walkers congregate for safety campaign

MORE than 140 supporters turned up bright and early at specialist running shoe and apparel supplier Verve Running in Williamson Street earlier this month to take part in the Bendigo leg of Take Back the Track Day 2026.

Take Back the Track is a movement founded by running attack survivor, Gunditjmara, Keerraay Wooroong and Djab Wurrung woman Sissy Austin, an advocate for the safety of women and gender diverse people to be able to exercise and run “free from violence or the fear of” it.

The community event, co-organised with View Street boutique Pink Honey, brought together people of all ages and fitness levels to complete a three-kilometre route through the city.

Participants were encouraged to move at their own pace, with the focus on connection, awareness and standing together for safer public spaces.

Ms Austin started the movement after she was attacked while running in bushland near Ballarat, not far from the area where missing mother of three Samantha Murphy was last seen alive.

It aims to raise awareness about safety and the precautions many women and gender-diverse people feel they must take simply to exercise outdoors.

Verve Running founder, Australian men’s marathon record holder and Olympian Andy Buchanan, shared that while out on his 5.30am run that morning he’d been thinking about how women often feel the need to take extra precautions to train outdoors.

“It shouldn’t be the case,” he said.

Pink Honey’s Georgie Pell said she was amazed by the strong turnout and the sense of community on the day.

“It was a really positive atmosphere and so special to see so many people come together for such an important cause,” she said.