The former Hawthorn champion and quadruple premiership coach has signed on as the ambassador for Serra Terror, an 80-kilometre endurance event held over the Queen’s Birthday long weekend. 

Organising committee member Katrina Weatherly said Parkin, 71, was a perfect choice for the role given his high-profile association with men’s health programs and initiatives. 

“We are very excited that David has come on board,” Ms Weatherly said. 

“David has never done Serra Terror, but he had a connection to the Grampians region. His grandmother had a property at Armstrong, near Ararat, and he spent his childhood trekking the tracks around the park.

“His roles with men’s health organisations and his active promotion of a healthy lifestyle makes him a perfect fit for the role.” 

Parkin played 211 games for Hawthorn between 1961 and 1974 and is a four-time premiership coach — three with Carlton. 

He is now a popular business and motivational speaker and AFL commentator and holds numerous ambassadorial roles for rural and regional Australian causes. 

Ms Weatherly said Parkin would walk some of the 80km trek from east to west, traversing the widest section of the Grampians National Park. 

“He’ll walk part of the course and spend time with the competitors and will make the presentations in Dunkeld at the end of the event,” she said. 

She said this year’s Serra Terror is known as the Three Ranges Challenge, and participants will cross all three ranges making up the Grampians National Park — the Victoria, Serra and Mt William Ranges. 

Ms Weatherly said early entries were tracking well, with numbers already ahead of the same time last year. 

“We’d really encourage people to get their entries in early and to book any accommodation. Being a long weekend it’s going to be busy.” 

To find out more, visit dunkeldadventure.com.au