General
4 July, 2026
Ron & Anne Grant pop-in for a chat
It is amazing who randomly comes in the door at the MacIntyre Gazette shop... Last Friday 26th of June a couple came in and we started chatting... It turns out Anne Grant has Texas connections - her father was a McIntyre and her mother a Young which are two recognisable local names. After talking for a bit Anne mentioned her husband Ron Grant was a well-known Australian ultra distance runner.
The couple reside in Toogoolawah Queensland these days where Anne runs “Two Galahs” Gallery.
Every now and then they take off for a drive for a few days and this time it included Texas.
Getting back to Ron Grant OAM and his epic achievements as an Australian ultra distance runner.
In 1983, Ron Grant ran 13,383 km (8,316 miles) around Australia in 217 days. He completed the run anticlockwise, starting in Brisbane, then Townsville, Mount Isa, Darwin, Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and back to Brisbane. Grant maintained an overall daily average of 61.67 kms (38.32 miles) and was the first person to do it solo.
At 83 Ron still keeps active walking 5kms a day.
Some of Ron’s Highlights:
1979: Sydney to Brisbane a distance of 1012 kms, breaking Tony Rafferty’s record.
1980: Birdsville Track, again breaking Tony Rafferty’s record 505 kms.
1981: Caboolture to Gympie and return 322 kms.
1981: Simpson Desert winter 379 kms.
1981: Winton to Longreach Ron v horses 180 kms (23:20).
1982: Cairns to Townsville 350 kms.
1983: Around Australia 13,383 kms.
1985: Ron completed the first ever summer crossing of the Simpson Desert on foot (3:20:35).
1986: Match race against Tony Rafferty across the Simpson Desert, again in summer. Ron won in a new record time of 3:17:52.
Recognition:
• Ron Grant was named Queensland Sportsman of the Year in 1983.
• He was named Queenslander of the Year in 1984.
• He received a Medal of the Order of Australia 1984.
Reference Sources - Wikipedia and Australian Ultra & Trail Runners Association
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