By Lachlan Mitchell
Knowles Tivendale has been awarded joint winner of Greater Dandenong’s Sportsperson of the Year after he founded – and currently sits as the director of the Dandenong Parkrun.
The recipient was in shock after being announced the winner at the Australia Day awards ceremony.
“I was very surprised to win, I was humbled and honoured to win the award, and I appreciated the thought that I was considered,” Knowles said.
Parkrun’s basic concept has continued to evolve to create a strong sense of community among the participants.
“It’s a walk in the park at 8 o’clock on a Saturday morning which is great for the community to bring people together,“ Knowles said.
Knowles set up the foundation and gathered a group of volunteers to run the exercise event after a chance meeting in Adelaide.
“I came across it three years ago when I was in Adelaide when a friend asked me if I wanted to go to a park run and I said, what’s that?
“It was 500 people in the park, after I investigated, I realised it’s completely free because they have set up a foundation in the UK that sets up the whole thing. “Knowles said.
The run is more than just exercise it creates great bonds within the community and is great for tourism of the area.
“I have met people in the neighborhood whom I have met through park run, neighbors who live very close and even on my own street we have met through park run.
“It was important to have one in Dandenong and what it does for tourism, people from Ireland and the UK have come down to join us.”
The benefits of the environment and learning and seeing the natural surroundings is the most rewarding.
“It’s important to improve the biodiversity and the habitat of the local surroundings and it’s so important to see more butterflies and natural wildlife, we all need fresh air and exercise,” Knowles said.
