Perth Voice Interactive

JOGGERS will have to steer clear of timid kangaroos and Yagan’s nudity under a compromised plan to stage fun runs on Heirisson Island.

The organisers of the free 5km parkrun wanted to stage an event on Heirisson Island but Perth city councillor James Limnios was concerned runners would spook the roos.

The Whadjuk working party, a group of Aboriginal locals that provides advice on significant sites, supports the event but is concerned about runners jogging past the naked Yagan statue. The warrior’s nudity is a point of contention amongst some elders, who say that in life, Yagan would have been clothed in kangaroo and possum skins.

A new proposed route will avoid the roos and naked Yagan altogether, sticking to the northern half of the island and running the course twice.

“The organisers came and listened to our concerns and made the track a bit smaller to minimise the impact,” Cr Jim Adamos says.

The new route—and $5000 sponsorship from the PCC—will go to the next PCC meeting for a decision.

by DAVID BELL