Paul Nixon from Great Lakes International Triathlon Association (GLITA) has called for locals to get behind the October 18 to 19 race.

“All up, we need about 100 volunteers for each day. There are a variety of jobs to do, but at this stage it’s just a matter of getting names on paper and building a database of helpers,” he said.

“We’ll allocate jobs based on what people are good at. A lot of it will be things like handing out drinks, moving light fences and registering athletes. We might have 16-year-olds right up to 60 or 70-year-olds, so we’ll give people tasks they’re suited to.”

Any help will be gratefully accepted, Nixon said, but it won’t all be hard slog.

“I think the volunteers will have a lot of fun, and get a great view of the triathlon.

“The best part is that it’s all for the town, and a sense of community stems from helping out. And they get a T-shirt,” he said.

“Basically, the event won’t go ahead without volunteers, which would be a big loss. It could become huge, like the triathlon was in Forster for 20 years.”

Organisers will accept volunteers up to race day.

For more information, call Paul Nixon on 0421 046 199, or email him at pjnixon@westnet.com.au.