Coombes Bridge officially named

Linda Coombes (far right) and Steve Moneghetti AM (4th from right) at the official opening of the ‘Coombes Bridge’ at the Queens Park weir last week. Photo - Jeremy Sollars.

The new foot bridge at the Queens Park weir in Warwick has been officially named ‘Coombes Bridge’ after Linda Coombes, the driving force behind the popular Warwick Parkrun fitness event.

Mayor Tracy Dobie and legendary Aussie marathon champion Steve Moneghetti did the naming honours last Thursday 15 August, during Steve’s visit to Warwick, which included being the guest speaker at a ‘Mayoral Leadership Lunch’ event.

Southern Downs councillors at a special meeting on Monday 5 August voted in favour of naming the bridge after Linda. Other local identities suggested by the public to be honoured with the bridge name were Graham Buchner – nominated by Councillors Sheryl Windle and Yve Stocks – and the late Cr Jamie Mackenzie, along with a suggestion of simply naming it the ‘River Walk Bridge’.

The arches of the bridge have been designed to be unbolted from the main bridge frame so they can be laid flat in the event of a flood and the surface of the bridge is perforated.

The Parkrun is held every Saturday from 7am and is a five kilometre run along the Condamine River, with individuals ‘racing against the clock’. Parkrun is free and the event is entirely run by volunteers – for more information, including how to register, visit www.parkrun.com.au/warwick