More than 300 runners converged on Mount Coot-Tha in Brisbane’s western suburbs to “reclaim the trail” after several reported attacks on women.
The event, organised by State Labor MP Jonty Bush, was designed to promote safety and keep the trail populated.
“The greatest thing we can do to keep people safe, is to keep these trails populated and get people out there looking out for each other and training together,” Bush said.
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Members of the local community were left rattled when multiple women reported being attacked on the mountain in broad daylight earlier this year.
In one incident in July, a woman was running around the Maculata Track at Mount Coot-Tha when she was allegedly pushed to the ground and held down by a man.
The attacker then fled when he heard footsteps of approaching people.
One runner at the event today said the reports hit her close to home.
“Especially because I’m a shift worker,” she said.
“I come out here through the week and that’s when all of these attacks happened.”
“Instead of enjoying the forest and feeling safe and taking time for myself, I was looking over my shoulder, checking everywhere, feeling very unsafe,” another participant said.
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Police have increased their presence around the track and the council has installed security cameras.
The measures are slowly drawing more people back to the mountain, but this morning they turned out in force.
“I think it’s important that women and just everyone in general is coming together to hopefully make sure this doesn’t happen again,” another participant said.
“We hate seeing people afraid of the trails because it’s such a wonderful community and a wonderful place to be.”
Geoff Russell of the Trail Running Association of Queensland hope the message would be clear.
“That’s the purpose, just bringing everyone together and making awareness that we’re here to reclaim the mountain,” he said.
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