Most runners preparing for a 6,000km journey across Australia would be clocking up endless kilometres of roads and trails.

Newcastle’s Flinders Cobley has taken a slightly different approach.

In recent months, locals may have spotted him running laps around some of the Hunter’s most recognisable landmarks, including Ozzie the Mozzie, the giant Ugg boots and Maitland Park. 

While the challenges may appear quirky on the surface, they’re part of a broader effort to raise awareness for child trafficking and exploitation ahead of an ambitious fundraising run from Cape York to Wilsons Promontory. 

Cobley is one of four members behind MotionFourJustice, a movement that aims to combine endurance challenges with advocacy for an important purpose. 

“MotionFourJustice is pretty much people doing crazy things to support beautiful causes like this,” he said. 

“Personally, I joined after finding Griff’s article, where he mentions his trip to Colombia and how the trafficking over there is really bad. 

“Same with Indonesia and a lot of parts of the world. 

“With the recent Newcastle case also, it hit so close to home. 

“So we sat down, discussed everything and became keen on setting up a team.

“We brought the page together to collaborate, and show our journeys in the lead up to doing this massive run.”

The group’s formation comes amid heightened attention on child exploitation, including a recent case following a Newcastle man charged after Australian Border Force (ABF) officers allegedly discovered child abuse material on electric devices when he arrived at Sydey International Airport from Thailand on 1 June.

Authorities allege approximately 750,000 files remain under investigation. 

The 32-year-old is due to face court in July. 

So, beginning on 1 August, Cobley and teammates Griffin Hughes, Nathan Maufe and Chelsea Dyer will attempt to cover more than 6,000 kilometres across Australia while raising funds for anti-trafficking organisation, Destiny Rescue.

The idea was born after conversations about the scale of child trafficking overseas and a desire to do something that would attract public attention. 

“We really needed to do something massive that would stand out in the public eye,” Cobley said.

“It needed to be something different. 

“A lot of people have attempted the Perth to Sydney or Newcastle trip, and that’s still massive, but we were like, ‘why not throw an extra 2,000 kilometres on top and go from the top of the bottom’.”

While the run itself is still weeks away, Cobley has already developed a following online through his unconventional local challenges. . 

“I felt like I needed to break up my feed and mentally take a rest from training and posting the same sort of content,” the 22-year-old said. 

“My friend Sean swims in local iconic landmarks for content… and I was inspired to do something similar.

“I thought, ‘Why not go out and expose myself by running around these big landmarks through the Hunter?’” 

These challenges have proven physically demanding in their own right, with endless laps around fixed objects leaving Cobley’s feet battered and blistered. 

Mentally, however, they have served another purpose. 

“During my runs, people stand there filming me, laughing and honking,” Cobley told the Newcastle Weekly.

“Putting myself out there for 20-to-30 minutes has really taken me out of my comfort zone massively.” 

The social media content has become a key part of MotionFourJustice’s campaign, helping the team reach new audiences and spark conversations around child exploitation.

Without it, Cobley believes the movement would struggle to gain momentum. 

“Social media has been absolutely vital for us as a team,” he admitted. 

“From posting on our socials, I’ve had people reach out and want to come out for a run. 

“Some people want us to start up a running club. 

“It’s great to see that people are becoming aware of us and our cause.” 

For Cobley, the cause is also deeply personal. 

He says seeing poverty and vulnerable children during a trip through Indonesia, combined with thoughts of his seven-year-old sister Semira back home, reinforced his desire to get involved. 

“I would just hate to think that anyone in my family or in general was taken advantage of,” he explained. 

“However, I am quite protective of my little sister, so I especially wouldn’t want anything to happen to her.”

The goal is to raise $1 million for Destiny Rescue through the run, though Cobley says success will be measured by more than fundraising alone. 

“If we don’t get there and we aren’t successful, we really just want people to take awareness out of this,” he said. 

“We’re all just normal human beings who work and have a life.

“We are going out and doing this crazy thing to advocate for such a special cause.

“Although, if we were able to reach our goal, that would be absolutely life changing.”

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• Hunter teen Jess Riley remembered as family faces another terminal cancer diagnosis
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