THEY came, they saw and they ran.

Hundreds of visitors joined hundreds of locals in Moree last September for a jog around town – and the event now known as Run the Plains was off and running.

At Moree Plains Shire Council’s Jellicoe Park Australia Day awards ceremony on Sunday, Run the Plains was named Community Event of the Year, with an assurance the carnival was now firmly stamped on the Moree sporting and tourism calendar.

The two-day street party with a health and fitness twist is a partnership between Moree Little Athletics Club, Tourism Moree, Moree Ski Park, 2400 Run Club and Moree Parkrun, and was boosted by council’s Event Partnership Program, a grant initiative designed to support and expand local events.

And when Tourism Moree CEO, Julie Rushby, accepted the award from Moree Plains mayor Susannah Pearse on Sunday, she encouraged anyone with an idea to pitch the concept to council, which allocates more than $40,000 annually to support the program.

“If you’re sitting on an idea, reach out and pop it into motion because the grant from council is certainly what kicked us off,” Ms Rushby said.

“While there’s a million people we’d like to thank, it would not have been possible without the grants partnership with Moree Plains Shire Council.”

Run the Plains was a complete success, and brought hundreds of visitors to Moree. They stayed a few days, spent up with local businesses, cafes, restaurants and motels – and they ran.

(from left) Julie Rushby, Ronny Clissold, Kate McDonald, Casey Smith, Will Smith and Felicity Taylor at Moree Plains Shire Council’s Jellicoe Park Australia Day awards ceremony.

Ms Rushby congratulated all Australia Day award nominees, especially “the people who do something to make our town, our shire and our community a little better each day”.

“I can’t believe how proud I was to be part of an event that the community embraced,” Ms Rushby said.

“While we’ve got people driving events to make things happen, they don’t happen unless people truly want to do them.

“As recently as this week, I looked back on some photos and they still bring tears to my eyes to see the joy and the pleasure, and the coming together of our community.

“We had more than 30 local businesses come on board as gold, silver and bronze sponsors, and we had a few local champions who made the event possible.

“I thank everyone for participating, and I encourage you to drag out the joggers because there’s less than 250 days to our next event – so get amongst it and we’ll see you in September,” she smiled.

Mayor Susannah Pearse said Run the Plains was an incredible celebration of health, fitness and community.

“It brought together participants of all ages and abilities, with races ranging from one-kilometre to 36 kilometres,” Cr Pearse said.

“The event was a resounding success, with more than 345 entrants taking part in six races. It not only showcased the beautiful, open spaces of Moree but also provided a significant boost to the local economy.”

Cr Pearse said Run the Plains brought the community together, and inspired a sense of belonging and pride among residents.

“It promoted health, inclusivity and personal achievement, and reinforced the values that make Moree such a special place,” Cr Pearse said.

“Run the Plains wasn’t just a race – it was a celebration of everything that makes Moree a wonderful to live, work and visit.”