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USC graduate in Indigenous marathon squad
A 29-year-old University of the Sunshine Coast Social Science graduate who loved running as a youngster at Maroochydore State High School is now training with Australia’s legendary marathon man, Robert De Castella.
Bridgette Williams was one of 20 amateur Indigenous athletes selected from across Australia earlier this year for De Castella’s Indigenous Marathon Project, a series of races and camps coupled with an education program.
After performing impressively in the half-marathon section of the recent Gold Coast Airport Marathon, Ms Williams will compete in an 11km race at Uluru on 30-31 July, the 14km City to Surf in Sydney in August and a 30km time trial in Alice Springs in September.
She hopes to be one of 10 squad members chosen by De Castella for his project’s climax: the world-famous 42km New York City Marathon in November.
Ms Williams, who now lives at Mt Gravatt in Brisbane while working at Griffith University’s Indigenous Research Network, said her selection was an honour and a challenge which she hoped would inspire other young Indigenous people.
“I’ve always wanted to be a voice for Indigenous people because it’s not really our culture for individuals to stand up and say their piece,” she said.
Ms Williams started that representation during her USC degree, majoring in Sociology and International Relations before graduating in early 2010.
“USC taught me how to understand society’s systems and processes,” she said.
“I founded USC’s Buranga Indigenous Student Committee to support those who had left their family and community networks to come and study. I also sat on the University’s Indigenous Advisory Committee which was a great way to make positive changes.”
Ms Williams broadened her horizons during six months’ study in Michigan, America, as part of USC’s Global Opportunities program.
While she grew up on the Sunshine Coast, her heritage includes the Birrigubba from Townsville and the Bundjulung from Beaudesert.
Ms Williams returned to the Sippy Downs campus last week to relay her experiences to staff and students at the USC Buranga Centre, which assists Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Australian South Sea Islander students.
De Castella’s Indigenous Marathon Project aims to identify new talent and highlight the potential of Australian Indigenous marathon runners on the international stage.
– Julie Gatehouse