This week marks a year since Samantha Murphy went out for a run in her town of Ballarat and was reported missing.
In March, Patrick Orren Stephenson was charged with Murphy’s murder, and her body has never been found, despite several extensive searches. Stephensen has pleaded not guilty to the charge and is awaiting trial.
Acknowledging Murphy’s tragic story, along with every other woman and gender diverse person who doesn’t feel safe to go for a run, a national movement, called Take Back the Track, is calling for change.
On 16 February, Take Back the Track is inviting runners across the country to join “on this journey of reclaiming our right to run free from harm”. The movement is also calling on men to run in solidarity with the cause.
“Take Back the Track’s vision is for women and gender diverse runners to feel less alone, validated and a sense of belonging and safety when running. We strive to develop a growing movement that recognises the unacceptable experience of women and gender diverse runners and fights for all runners to feel a sense of freedom and happiness when running,” says the group.
“Samantha Murphy had a right to go for a run and return home, she had a right to freedom and safety whilst running and Samantha not returning home to her family and community is a national disgrace.”
Building off the Take Back the Track movement, the organisation of an awareness event on 16 February is part of a collaboration between Sissy Austin, and Marion Yates, a Safety on Campbells Creek Trail organiser.
Late last year, Yates was one of the women who organised a gathering of support, following numerous incidents of women being harassed while running or walking along the Campbells Creek Trail in Victoria.
Founder of the Take Back the Track movement, Sissy Austin holds a significant connection with Murphy, in that Austin also experienced a form of violence whilst going for a run in the month of February.
In February 2023, Austin, a Peek Woorroong Keerraay Woorroong Djab Wurrung First Nations woman living on Dja Dja Wurrung country, was assaulted while running the Lal Lal State Forest near her home in Ballarat. The attack resulted in Austin getting a severe concussion and post-concussion symptoms.
Nevertheless, Austin refused to let the attack steal her love and connection to running, and she’s been a powerful voice for women’s safety ever since, going on to run in the Indigenous Marathon Project.
“Going for a run on that hot day in February could have stolen from me both my life, and my love of running, but it didn’t,” said Austin on her motivation to create Take Back the Track.
“I believe I survived my running attack so I could rise and fight. I run to say enough is enough and to ensure that my love for running is never stolen from me, stolen from us. I run to show my community that we can heal collectively and in an empowering way.”
“The love women and gender-diverse people have for running is worthy of fighting for and worthy of being protected.”