Meet the Torch Relay Bearers

Belinda Zulpo
Belinda Zulpo’s eyes are set a little further beyond the horizon that this Olympic Games. The 20-year-old, whose hero is Louise Savage, hopes to compete in the 2004 Paralympics on the track.

Lismore-born Belinda, who recently moved to Ballina with her family, will be the second torchbearer on day 78, carrying the torch past Ballina Tennis Courts, down Cherry St, around 7.30am, on Thursday.

To get ready, Belinda has maintained her usual regime of gym work and road training. Now she’s ready for big moment. “It’s pretty exciting, but I haven’t had time to think about it too much,” she confesses. “I’m so grateful to have the opportunity of just being a part of the Olympics.”

Fay Smith
Bundjalung Elder and torchbearer, Fay Smith, needs no introduction. Fay has lived in Lismore for more than 40 years and is renowned for her community work. Among her many accolades is a NAIDOC Week award, presented last month, for her dedication to reconciliation.

“I take great pride in being a torchbearer and, being an advocate for reconciliation, it means even more to me,” Fay said. “From overseas in Greece, the torch has travelled from county to country through many different hands. I see this as a huge step towards cultural reconciliation.. putting aside all political agendas to join in the Olympic spirit.”

She also won the 1999 Australia Day Reconciliation Award, is co-founder of Jarjum Preschool and is a member of the Goobah Goobah Dance Theatre. Fay will be carrying the torch from the Croquet Courts on Molesworth Street to the corner of Woodlark and Molesworth Streets. The 200m leg will begin at about 12pm.

Fay hopes to walk with her five year-old great-grandaughter, Tamika Smith and her sister Patty Smith, no doubt with her 25 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren and her own family close behind.

Ian Scotcher
Ian is the one guy who knows he can go the distance when he carries the Olympic Torch through Broadwater next Thursday morning. He has been heavily involved in long distance running and marathons for many years now following a distinguished career in local A Grade Hockey and Cricket.

He and his wife still run around 50-60 kms every week, and Ian is in preparation for the World Veteran Championships in 2001. Ian’s love of running that drives him, leading him to organise community events like the Coraki Fun Run. “Fitness is a lifestyle that you get hooked on, it becomes a part of looking after yourself” he said.

Ian is an Olympics fan and couldn’t be prouder of his part in the Sydney 2000 Games. “This is a huge honour and privilege to be able to represent my home, and quite a thrill to be involved.”

Jim Roder
Jim Roder was born and bred in Woodburn, but has been a Lismore resident for the past 35 years. Jim has clocked up 38 years service with Lismore Fire Brigade and he’s still an active member. In 1997, Lismore Council named Roder Oval after the 62 year-old for his commitment to helping public sporting venues.

As the owner of Roder Constructions, Jim has freely given his time, energy and machinery to help maintain sporting facilities such as the Albert Park baseball fields, Crozier Oval and Nesbitt Park... to name a few. He also gave a helping hand to the Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter when the service purchased their second helicopter.

“I’m proud that my work in the community has resulted in this,” Jim said. “It’ll be a real buzz for me... but I couldn’t have done any of it without the love and support of my wife, Fay.”

Starting at 4.45pm, Jim will do a 500m run, going from Keats Street to Scott Street in Byron Bay.

Jim Rogers
The very students that Jim Rogers taught for more than 25 years have made it possible for him to carry the torch in next week’s relay. The students from St Mary’s High School nominated Jim after they read an article about torchbearers while on a Duke of Edinburgh camp last year – Jim’s last year before retiring.

The nomination comes as a great honour to Jim, who ‘nearly fell over backwards’ when he got the good news. Jim coached the School Debating team and, being an avid sportsman, he also coached the St Mary’s Girl’s Soccer team and Lismore’s Junior Soccer team. Since knowing of his new-found responsibility, Jim has been to numerous local primary schools to talk about his run.

“It’s a unifying event for Australia and I think it’s extra special for rural areas,” Jim said. “For those of us who can’t go to Sydney it’s given us the opportunity to be part of the Olympics.”

The long-time Bexhill resident will carry the torch for 500m, from Bexhill School to the Corndale Turnoff, from 2pm.

John Allen
Being a torchbearer really strikes a chord for John Allen. The 64 year-old Lismore resident is the co-founder of the Lismore City Concert Band, which he conducted for more than 20 years. John also conducted the South Lismore Primary School Band for nearly 10 years and for almost 20 years he has helped brass students prepare for Festivals, Eisteddfods or exams. John went to the 1956 Melbourne Olympics to watch athletics and swimming, however, in a week’s time all eyes will on him.

Starting at 5.49pm, John will run 600m, from the 100km sign just outside Lennox Head to the Coast Road rest area.

Lauren Rose
Lismore’s youngest torchbearer, 17 year-old Lauren Rose, was nominated by her friend Kate Brown for her dedication to softball and the Alstonville High School’s SRC. Lauren is a member of the under 19s State Softball team, Australian Merit Team, Combined High Schools Softball team and the All School’s Softball team. She is also mad keen on volleyball, cricket, tennis, soccer and touch football.

The born and bred McLeans Ridge girl was president of the SRC last year, and has taken on the role of school captain this year. Her skills as an advocate and diplomat for her classmates saw her selected for the National Association of Student Councils conference in America last year.

Lauren begins her leg of the run at 1.44pm on the outskirts of Lismore along the Bangalow Road. She will carry the torch 400m to Howard’s Grass Road.

Lyn Larsen
One of Lismore’s most celebrated sporting identities, Lyn Larsen is delighted to represent her region once more when she carries the Torch through Byron. “It is just fabulous! It all seemed so far away just a short time ago, but now the day is almost here,” Lyn said.

Lyn is one of Australia’s most prolific women’s cricketers. First selected in the Australian side in 1984 and was an integral member for a decade until her retirement in 1994 playing 15 Tests and over 40 One Day Internationals, including winning the 1988 World Cup. She was Australia’s youngest captain at the age of 22.

Lyn says she is looking forward to brining the excitement of the Olympics to the region she loves. “It is great to able to bring some genuine excitement to the area, and to play a part in our little bit of history.”

Matthew Walker
Matthew Walker has more than one reason to celebrate when he carries the torch along Brewster Street, then on to Brunswick Street around 1.27pm. It’s Matthew’s 21st birthday. Carrying the torch is a pretty good present from his Mum, who nominated him based on Karate results.

Matthew, who’s lived in Lismore for 17 years, won his age group at the Karate Junior World Cup in ’94 and ’95. In ’96 he won World Championships, followed by the Style World Championships in ’97.

Currently he’s busy doing plumbing at TAFE, and keeping fit at the gym. Matthew thinks the torch relay “is probably one of the best things about the Olympics, because everyone gets to be a part of it.”

He’s thrilled about the “glory and honour of running with it on my 21st birthday – it’s going to be a very memorable day.”

Max Thompson
Running in the torch relay is a ‘once in a lifetime’ chance for Max Thompson. Following a serious back injury, the Lismore-born former top-level sportman hasn’t run for more than two decades. But nothing’s going to stop him when he runs past Lismore lake as the second torch bearer on the way into Lismore.

Now 50, Max has been working on the exercise bike in preparation, and for the last few weeks, joined the Lismore Workers soccer team during training for a 500m run on grass. The knees have been x-rayed just in case.

Now it’s for a one-off run on the bitumen. The torch relay is adding to excitement in the Thompson household. On Monday, Max was presented with his third grand-daughter.

“No grandsons yet!” quipped the father of four girls. The buzz from the family is infectious. “Each it comes closer – I’m getting more and more hyped and my family is getting excited and looking forward to the day,” he said. But it’s hard to explain the feeling Max reckons.

“Realising the torch was here 44 years ago, lot of us oldies are thinking this is the last time we’ll get a chance to see it. It’s such an honour for the runners and honour for the town itself.”

Peter Larsen
Many people will remember Peter as a Lismore City Councillor for eight years. The Channon resident works for Norco, and is ‘over the moon’ to be chosen as a runner.

“My kids are that excited, I’m running off their excitement,” Peter said. His kids and their schoolmates from Tuntable Creek Public School are coming to town to watch dad run his 600 metres alonf Brunswick Street around 1.40pm.

In the meantime he’s been practicing, running 1.2km a day carry a full 1.25lt coke bottle as a mock torch. “The dog thinks it’s pretty good joining me on the run too,” Pete said. “I doing this for the community and I’ve been amazed by the community support – people ringing me wishing me luck. Word gets round – even people from Rockhampton have rung and I’ll be donating the hat I’ll be wearing to a charity fundraiser for cancer.

“It’s going to be a euphoric day, and I don’t doubt I’ll have a little tear in the corner of my I eye some stage.”

Ruth Stewart
Ruth Stewart is the best Mum in the world according to her daughter, Jenny, who nominated her as a torchbearer for that very reason. Ruth is mother to eight children and grandmother to 12, but that hasn’t kept her from being a dedicated community worker. For more than 20 years she has been a volunteer with the Girl Guides and is to date still the Lismore and District leader.

She has been St Paul’s Presbyterian Church’s committee secretary for more than 10 years, the Presbyterian Women’s Association president for eight years and has voluntarily taught Scripture in local schools for 10 years. And all while helping her husband, Peter, run his doctor’s surgery in Lismore.

Ruth will carry the torch for 400m, from the corner of Ballina and Molesworth Streets to the Croquet Courts.

Raymond Hunt
Raymond Hunt ran a mile in the 1956 Olympic Torch Relay. This year he won’t quite run a mile, but the 400m he does run will be a mile from where he ran 44 years ago.

Raymond has worked at the Broadwater Mill for 40 years. He has been the Coraki Golf Club’s treasurer for more than 30 years and for an amazing 60 years has been hard at work fundraising for the Red Cross. In fact, Raymond has recently begun work with Telecross, the free crisis telephone counselling service and he has donated blood more than 150 times.

The 68 year-old retiree, a born and bred Tuckurimba boy, still does volunteer bus driving for St Vincent’s Hospital and Caroona Nursing Home. Raymond will begin his run at 9.09am from Woodburn’s SES Headquarters to Cooper Street.

Douglas Worling
If anyone knows how to run, it’s Douglas Worling. The spritely 65 year-old was just 22 when he carried the torch in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics and has been the president of the Lismore District Harriers (runners) for an astounding 25 years.

Douglas was born and bred in South Lismore and has resided as his current home in Fernside for more than 20 years.

“I was so keen I nominated myself,” laughed Douglas. “It’s a lot different than it used to be when we had the non-stop relay from Cairns to Melbourne. There’s more excitement this year and 400m is lot easier than one mile.”

Douglas will run at 1.30pm from the corner of Leycester and Dawson Street, to the Palms Caravan Park on Brunswick Street.

Colin Rogan
Lismore’s first runner, Colin Rogan, has been a teacher and school principal for more than 30 years at 13 different schools throughout NSW. The 59 year old is a member of the SES and has been a youth worker with various Pathfinder Clubs throughout his teaching career. He also has four children of his own.

“Young people need a fair go and they so often don’t get that,” Colin said. “My torch run is a statement of my belief in young and the potential that’s there which is so often overlooked. When I run I won’t give a thought to those sleepless nights; in school lesson preparation, under canvas with youth groups, worrying how to manage a school budget or a complex discipline problem. For three minutes I will think of all the children I know and savour the excitement which the flame has guaranteed.”

Colin will begin his run at 11.35am. He will run 500m, from the Caniaba Turnoff to the Lismore Lake Caravan Park.

Russell Sharpe
When Russell was 15 he ran a mile in under six minutes and secured himself a spot on the 1956 Olympic Torch Relay team. This time around, Russell gets in because of his generous contributions to the local community.

Russell co-founded the Alstonville Soccer Club in 1972. He was president of the Lismore District Soccer Association for three years and was a member for 10 years. He has coached Women’s Hockey at Evans Head and Junior Rugby at Woodburn.

He has been a member of the Surf Lifesaving Club throughout his adult life and was a Scout Leader for nearly nine years. He was a teacher at four local schools over a 15 year period and has four children. Russell’s 500m run begins at 1.30pm from the 60km sign just past the Helicopter Base on Brunswick Street along to Carolina Street.

Marcia Bourne
Marcia Bourne has been actively involved in the ex-services community since 1964 in Sydney, and since moving to Alstonville in 1995. As the daughter of a soldier who landed at Gallipoli on April 25, 1915 she has felt a deep commitment to the ex-services community throughout her life. She is a life member of RSL Women's Auxiliary, received a Premier's Award in ’92, is a founder of Alstonville Meals on Wheels, the current president of the Ballina Ex-Services Homes Auxiliary. Marcia, who says she will be dedicating her run to the memory of her father and his compatriots, will run from Coogee Street to the Missingham Bridge, East Ballina, on Wednesday afternoon.

Bruce Gallaher
Bruce played 105 first grade rugby games with Northern Suburbs during the ’50 and ’60s and was selected to play with the Australian Barbarians in their formation years, and with the NSW Waratahs in 1956. When Bruce moved to Ballina in the early ’80s he helped form the Ballina Battered Prawns Rugby Club for players over the age of 35. Bruce is still playing with them, and is also the oldest player still playing with the Ballina Touch Football Association. As he approaches retirement he has become involved in a range of community services, including book deliveries to nursing homes for the Ballina library and as a visitor to the local war service home.

Nat Rolls-Gordon A year 11 student at Alstonville High School Nat is also a Sergeant in his local cadet unit, a student of Tae Kwon Do, a Duke of Edinburgh award candidate, who has competed at state level in cross country, athletics, swimming and water-polo.

He is also a member of the Lennox Head-Alstonville Surf Club and a charity volunteer with the Salvation Army’s Red Shield Appeal, Red Cross and the surf club. Nat says he was surprised and honoured to be chosen to run with the Olympic flame because the things he has done for the community have been rewarding in themselves.

John Savage
After representing Woodlawn College in rugby league, athletics, tennis, swimming and diving, Barry went on to become a teacher. He was a sportsmaster at Ballina High School between 1953 and 1971 and again between 1974 and 1989. he then spent six years as a director of Ballina real estate firm O’Mara & Savage and another six years as a member of the Ballina Shire Council.

His other interests have included being a member and instructor at the Ballina Lismore SLSC and treasurer registrar of the far North Coast branch. He played first grade rugby league for Ballina and was captain coach for two years. He is a foundation member of the Ballina Basketball association and a past president. Coached school teams at Ballina High School for 34 years and has been actively involved in all areas of management and selection of High school rugby league in NSW.

John will be carrying the torch along River Street between Tweed and Bagot streets on Thursday morning.

Barry Saxby
As a young man Barry Saxby was an all round sportsman playing cricket, rugby league, rugby union, and soccer. These days he’s the father of five sporting children, three of whom have represented Australia, including daughter Kerry who is presently in training for her third Olympics.

Barry was the founding president of the Ballina Athletics Club in 1980 and has been president since then. During the summer months he’s the organiser, starter and handicapper for weekly competitions. 20 years ago he created the Ballina Cross Country Track and the club has now grown to over 400 members.

On Wednesday afternoon he’ll be carrying the Olympic Torch between Flat Rock and the Old Coast Road turnoff.

Hal Sherlock
For former Alstonville High School principal Hal Sherlock, carrying the torch out of Ballina on Thursday morning will be a 44-year old dream come true. In the early ‘50s Hal had won combined high school half mile and mile championships, the NSW under 18 two miles, the 5000 metre NSW cross country championships, represented Sydney University over three miles in Brisbane and Adelaide and won the National Service one mile championship in V Victoria in 1954 and 1955.

But his ambition to run in the 1956 Olympic Games was thwarted when he was posted to his first teaching position at Kyogle High school. With no training facilities Hal decided to concentrate teaching and embarked on a career spanning 40 years, plus three years at an Australian Army School in Singapore.

On Thursday morning he’ll be running between Crane and Tweed streets before handing over to fellow former schoolie John Savage.

Joanne Skinner
A secondary personal development, Health and physical education teacher at Southern Cross K-12 School in Ballina, Joan manages to find time to be an officer in the Army Reserve. She was heavily involved in all types of sport at school and is still willing to give anything a try. She began her teaching career at Alstonville High School in 1996 after completing a Degree in Human Movement at Southern Cross University.

Joanne said she did not expect to be selected to carry the torch and felt thrilled, honoured and privileged when she was told. She says she can’t wait to run and feels that it is going to be a fabulous moment in her life. Joanne will be running in Cherry Street between Crane and Bentinck streets on Thursday.

Mick Smith
The Ballina police officer is a founding member of the North Coast Triathalon Club and has been active in the sport as competitor, coach and race organiser since 1990. He was Bronze medallist at the 1995 World Police and Fire Games in Melbourne, and a Gold medallist in triathalon, duathon, aquathon, swimming and javelin events at the 1996 Australia and New Zealand Games. In 1997 he took part in a 24-hour swim to raise funds and awareness for muscular dystrophy. He has also competed in a 24-hour triathalon to help raise funds for local sufferer of motor neurone disease.

John Stebbing
Born in Casino and educated in Lismore, John has always been a keen North Coast sportsman. Apart from being involved in hockey, rugby league and rowing, John took an interest in boxing at an early age and went on to hold North Coast titles from bantamweight to middleweight and the NSW Welterweight title.

He has been a member of the NSW branch of the Australian Amateur Boxing Union for 34 years and holds trainer, judge and referee certificates. A self employed plumber, Johns still manages to find the time to judge and referee amateur boxing throughout the state.

John, who will run from near the McKay Harrison Gallery to Shelly Beach Road on Wednesday afternoon, said that to be part of the Olympic spirit in his own area during his 50th year made him feel very proud.

Alec Arrighi
Alec has been involved in Rugby Union and Athletics since he was a young man. In the late ‘40s and early ‘50s he played Rugby for Petersham, Parramatta, and North Harbour.

In athletics he represented NSW in the 220 and 440 yard hurdles in Brisbane in 1954 took part in the Olympics trials in 1956 and ranked third in the British Commonwealth between 1952 and 1956.

Since moving to Ballina he has maintained his interest in rugby league and athletics and has served in many club positions. Other interests include the St Andrews Nursing Home, St Mary’s Anglican Parish Council, the Ballina Masonic Lodge. He is currently the chairman of the Ballina Masonic Village.

Warren Birmingham
Warren Birmingham’s achievements in hockey between 1982 and 1995 must surely warrant him a place in the torch relay. he played in the Australian U/21 and Senior Squads which one a World Cup Silver Medal. Was a gold medal member of the 1984 and 1985 Australian teams, and one a

He was made vice captain in 1989 and was captain between 1990 and 1994 before his retirement in 1995.

Other achievements include World XI selection in 1986 and 1993, fourth at the Seoul Olympics in 1988 and silver at Barcelona in 1992. He was voted player of the series against Spain in 1987, New Zealand in 1988, England in 1989, the four nations tournament in Germany in 1990, and The Netherlands in 1991.

These days Warren lives at Lennox Head and acts as key note speaker for a number of organisations.

Sue Beck
Sue is a keen tennis player who has been involved with the game all her life. She has held executive positions with the Ballina tennis Club for 18 years, but now coaches

She was in three winning Country Week Teams. Her biggest success were winning the Australian Veterans Doubles Title with Lismore's Betty Whitelaw in 1991 and losing in the final to current Federation Cup Captain Leslie Bowry.

In 1995 she was part of a team which represented Australia in the Maria Bueno Cup in Austria and ended up coming third in the world.

John Huegill
John, who works with the Department of Fisheries, was a member of numerous medal winning SLSC surfboat rowing crews in the '70s and '80s, John took up rowing again to come third in the 1994 World Masters Games in Brisbane. He was also a member of crews that came second at the NSW Country SLSC titles in 1997 (over 35s). He is now concentrating on coaching crews at the Ballina-Lismore SLSC.

Ian Ford
Ian grew up at The Channon, and attended Richmond River High School. He taught at Broken Hill and Ballina and has been a teacher at Alstonville High since 1988.

Ian became involved with water polo when he returned to the Northern Rivers in 1981 and has worked to develop water polo in the area. He is a life member of the Alstonville Water Polo Club. Alstonville High School water polo teams coached by Ian have won seven NSW state championships since 1991 in both boys and girls sections, making it the most successful water polo playing school in the state.

Ian will be carrying his torch between the Missingham Bridge and the yacht club.

John Hollingsworth
John was born in Mullumbimby and lived in Casino until moving to Ballina eight-and-a-half years ago. He has been a credit union director for 27 years, a member of Casino Apex, the St Mary's pre-school committee, the Casino primary and high school P&C committees, and was a member of the Casino Beef Weeks committee as well as a vice-president.

Since moving to Ballina he has been involved with the Ballina High School P&C and school council, Landcare and the Lennox Head Community and Sport Club.

His sporting interests while in Casino have included membership of the Evans Head-Casino SLSC, the Casino RSM Football Club, Canoe Club, Golf Club and coaching junior rugby league and soccer. Since moving to Ballina he has been involved with touch football, twilight cricket, golf and the Lennox Head Golden Oldies Rugby Union Club.

Margaret Gardiner
Margaret is a retired school teacher who lives at Evans Head, She is a founder of the Casino Netball Club and was club secretary for 14 years. In 1974 she was named the Casino Cavalcade of Sport Woman of the Year. She is also a former sports mistress at Casino High School and is currently the secretary of the Evans Head View Club.

"My daughter nominated me because she seems to think I'm important," Margaret said. Margaret began training soon after learning she had been selected but training was interrupted soon after when she broke her leg in a fall. She says she has only recently fully recovered and is feeling nervous about her run.

"The broken leg has made me realise that I won't be setting any world records between the Broadwater Catholic Church and the sugar mill," she said.

Mark Sewell
Rescue Helicopter Service crewman Mark Sewell is still uncertain who nominated him to carry the torch in Bexhill on Wednesday. Mark believes his run is honouring all who serve or have served with the organisation. The Corndale father has been with the rescue service for the past 10 years - the first six as a volunteer. He started as the services scuba diver but he is now involved in all facets of the service.

He will run from just north of the Bexhill Store to the Eltham turnoff as the torch makes its way to Byron Bay.

Noel Ball
Noel was born at Leeville and got involved in the community through the local school and bushfire brigade. Since moving into Casino that work has expanded to include the Casino Show Society. Noel is a night cleaner at the Casino abattoirs and was chosen by the workers to carry the torch. He is also a founding member of the Casino Rescue Squad.

Noel says he is honoured to represent the Casino meatworks as well as the wider community

His only disappointment is that while he carries the torch along Johnson Street between Hickey and East streets, his mates in the rescue squad will be doing crowd control in another part of town.

Charlie Cox
Former Casino Mayor Charlie Cox expects a big crowd of supporters when he runs from the Casino Baths to the Mafeking lamp on Wednesday morning. As a teacher at Casino Public School for more than 35 years before his retirement in 1997 he has been promised lots of former pupils to cheer him on his way.

He says its something he never thought would happen and he is pleased for himself and the town. Cr Cox says he still intends to keep his torch as a ceremonial barbecue lighter but will eventually give it to his grandson.

Anthony Darragh
Motor mechanic Tony Darragh may work in Casino but he will be running with the Olympic torch between Keen Street and Oakes Oval in Lismore on Wednesday. That's because he got the position when his name was pulled from a hat by North Coast fuel distributor Quantum Petroleum.

Now, with less than a week to go, Tony realises that he's not just running for himself but for friends and acquaintances who have got behind him. As a result he decided to get serious and stopped playing Rugby for the season to avoid injury before the relay.

Paul Murphy
AMP agent Paul Murphy has had the unenviable distinction of having to give up a position in the torch relay. Living in one town and working in another meant he picked up an AMP sponsored position and a community position. He knew he had to give one of them up and was pleased that it enabled someone else to take part.

Paul is a life member of the Lismore Apex Club, and is Honorary treasurer of On-Focus, a community group working with the disabled. Paul will carry the torch in Uralba Street between Diadem and Hunter streets as it leaves Lismore.

Patrick Power
Pat was born during the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne and has decided to dedicate his run to the youth of Casino. He has been involved in Rugby Union for many years and played in national schoolboy sides as a youth including a game against an English international team in 1974. he has won a Kellyville medal and has been on the local rugby scene for more than 20 years. He has been a strapper for the Casino Bulls for the past 13 seasons. Pat will be running from the Charcoal Inn to the Casino Baths.

Graeme Philps
When Graeme Philps of Day's Machinery heard about the Olympic Torch Relay he didn't hesitate to nominate himself. He decided it was a once in a lifetime opportunity that was too good to leave to someone else.

The son of Bungawalbyn dairy farmers, Graeme has been a member of the Casino Fire Brigade, for 27 years, the Casino Apex Club for 18 years and a member of primary and secondary school P&Cs in the town. He will run from Hotham to Diary streets Casino.

Michael Pontefract
Michael is an engineering Surveyor Richmond Valley Council and moved to Casino from the south coast three years ago. He's been involved in surf life saving since he was 13 and was recently made a life member of his old club at Mollymook.

He was NSW Lifesaver of the Year in 1992. The torch was a real surprise considering the short time we had been here. I'm extremely thankful that Casino seems to have selected for activities outside the immediate community. My only complaint is that it's just a bit too far from the coast. Michael will run between Diary and Centre streets in South Casino.

Ross Schipp
Richmond Valley Council's general manager says he decided to have a go at the relay as soon as he heard about it. “I've got a fair bit of support from around the place and my brother in law is coming up from Woolli to watch me run.

“I'll be running in Johnson Street between the Roadhouse and the rest area which is probably a good spot to stop.”

David Speed
David is the station officer at the Casino Fire Station and moved to Casino two years ago last April from the Hawkbury. "My wife nominated me and I suppose I was selected because of work I've done with foster care and juvenile justice in the past," David said.

David will run in Johnston Street near Farmer Charlies.