Monuments, icons and an event that unites a state

It seems appropriate that the Lumary City-Bay Fun Run should have been born out of the 70s. It was a period that helped redefine the entire social, economic and cultural fabric of South Australia.

It was a time of long hair, flared pants, safari suits, platform shoes and psychedelic colours when Premiers Steele Hall and the flamboyant Don Dunstan left incredible marks.

The airways were dominated by names like Queen, Abba, Eagles, Pink Floyd, Cold Chisel, AC/DC and Masters Apprentices. The thriving night club scene included the likes of Largs Pier, Fiesta Villa, Headquarters and Countdown. The effervescent television personality Anne Wills was winning Logie after Logie, her dangly earrings almost as iconic as Holdens, frog cakes and pie floaters.

Internationally, the Vietnam War continued to dominate headlines, and nationally, a constitutional crisis would lead to the sacking of a Prime Minister.

Back home, Rundle Mall would be closed to all traffic to become a pedestrian-only shopping mall, the new Football Park was to become a reality, and ground was breaking on the West Lakes housing development.

As the finishing touches were being made for the official opening of the Festival Centre by Prime Minister Gough Whitlam in 1973, final preparations were simultaneously also in hand for the running of the first City-Bay in November 1973.

As the brainchild of tireless volunteer Bob Clarke, City-Bay Number One attracted 1600 runners to a course that initially ran from Adelaide Town Hall to the Glenelg Town Hall – an event that would leave a powerful legacy that to this day promotes fitness, community and all things good about South Australia.

Olympian Derek Clayton took out the first City-Bay on November 4 1973, in a tight tussle from David Fitzsimons in 34:08 with Tony Bart.  The women’s race was won by Elaine Stubbs in approximately 44:25 from J. Connelly and Lee Hardwick.

Today, amid the monuments and icons of the 70s – including the Adelaide Festival Centre outside of which the event now starts –  the Lumary City-Bay remains an enduring beacon of participation, fundraising and fun with literally millions of miles collectively run or walked by hundreds of thousands of competitors in a unique event that on one day in September unites a state.

What are your memories of the City-Bay?

To commemorate this time, lets reflect on the winners of the 70’s:

1973

Derek Clayton           35:58

Elaine Stubbs            46:55

1974

Brenton Norman       35:40

Chris Williamson      45:30

1975

Tony Bart                   36:18

Maureen Butler         42:47

1976

Tony Bart                   37:09

Charmaine Freund   46:29

1977

John Farrington        35:23

Maureen Moyle        40:55

1978

Arthur Kingsland      36:19

Maureen Moyle        40:33

1979

Gary Zeuner              35:25

Maureen Moyle        40:42