By Ethan Benedicto
A stalwart supporter of the runners, Peter Fleming was a beacon of positivity whenever his feet touched park grounds, and after his passing, there is no denying the lasting impact he has made to the runners and Parkrun as a whole.
On Saturday 11 January, at the early cusps of the morning, the weekly Parkrun at Wilson Botanical Park began in honour of Mr Fleming, where runners and walkers dedicated their morning to his support.
Patrick Herft, the Parkrun’s organiser and one of the many runners who have chanced upon Peter’s cheers, said that his contributions have made him the group’s “unofficial cheerleader”.
“This park run at Wilson Botanic has been going on for eight years and we start at 8am every Saturday, but he (Peter) leaves at 7:30am so he can meet us.
“He meets all the runners, going the opposite way, he’s been giving encouragement, doing high-fives and all that,” he said.
The day began at around 7:45am to ease the runners into their new routine, that is, running in the opposite direction, the same direction when Peter would cheer everyone on.
The morning was filled with people of all ages, eager to not only get their exercise in, but also to dedicate themselves and their hearts to a man who always had their backs.
“Peter did it rain, hail or shine you know?” Patrick said.
“He’s probably done it 46 out of 52 weeks in the year – the majority of the time, he was there.
“This parkrun was to create that atmosphere, to acknowledge what he was doing and keep that in his honour.”
Back in 2022, Star News spoke to Mr Fleming, where he revealed his love for all things running and walking.
At the young age of 90, he said that he began lacing up and taking to the tracks when he was 50, his passion for running ever growing after he picked up the hobby at the Tan in the Melbourne Royal Botanical Gardens.
However, his daily routine at Wilson Botanical began 18 years ago, after he moved into the neighbourhood just 300 metres away from the park.
He visited the park on a daily basis, picking up rubbish and of course, enjoying the nature and outdoor exercise.
“I thought it was a beautiful place and shouldn’t be dirty,” he told Star News back in 2022.
“I clean it up, I take a bag and pick up the dog poo and the lolly wrappers.”
Patrick recalled that it was difficult to find someone in the group who didn’t know who Peter was, and this extends to the everyday person who would take their walks at the park.
However, there was always a soft spot for Peter when it came to the Parkrun, with Patrick recollecting that “he loved it and he loved going the opposite way”.
“It was so he could see as many runners as he could, and he knew exactly who was who.
“We do two laps, and you would pass him on that second lap as well and he would say ‘keep going’ or ‘see you next week’.
“He knew the faces, he knew everyone, so we want to emphasise that that was his thing,” he said.
His passing was momentous, and something that Patrick said would be felt not just in the Parkrun group, but in the local community for a long time.
Back in 2022 and reflecting on his passion for running, he still took to the track even after his knee had been “playing up”, and when he discovered the park full of runners that one fateful Saturday morning, he discovered a new way to enjoy his passion vicariously through the many participants.
“I decided to walk in the opposite direction and meet everyone who runs past,” he said then.
“I say, ‘good on you, keep it going’, I cheer them up and someone said once, ‘you got me out of bed this morning’.
“I know them by their faces, most of them give me a high five, it’s good at 90 to have a whole lot of friends.”
An official memorial service will be held on Tuesday 14 January, at 10am just off the north-western edges of the lake.
For many, Pater’s presence was something that brought people together, making normal the everyday behaviour where everyone enlivens the park with that go-getter attitude.
