The Australian Olympic Torch Relay has to be the largest celebration of heroism that Australia has ever had! Not only does it work to showcase the achievements of past and present athletes, but also acknowledges many others who work within local communities who are making a difference. While the Olympics are a great sporting event, their location in Australia has given us an extraordinary opportunity to acknowledge the efforts not only of the athletes, but of ordinary Australians as well.

As the torch is running through many Australian towns and cities, many thousands of people have been selected to run a leg of the relay. These people were chosen to run through the communities they have contributed to, whether it be on the sporting field or in some other profession which has benefited or raised the spirits of many people in their area.

Not only the sporting heroes get to run through their city, but anyone who has contributed to their community.

Since the flame arrived in Central Australia, at Ayres Rock, from the Great Olympic Cauldron in Athens, an endless list of national and local identities have passed the torch between their hands. We have had politicians, both current and past, social activists, war heroes, community contributors, special disabled community members and the many thousand outstanding sports people Australia has produced over the past fifty to one-hundred years! Australia's eldest living person also shared a leg of the relay, a man over 100 years of age who was also a war veteran.

The Torch Relay, while capturing the attention of an entire nation in anticipation of the greatest Games, also grabs the Australian on a local level. The Torch Bearers are our neighbours, relatives and local identities many of whom had amazing stories of triumph that only local people knew about. The Olympic Torch Relay has announced their stories of heroism to the world!

Sherry exclaimed that participating in the torch relay was an honour.

When the Olympic Torch travelled through the City of Ballarat, the entire population turned out to see it, many spotting the helicopter from miles away and waiting on the streets from then on, in anticipation of a glimpse of their local hero holding the lit torch. Alice (a Heroism in Action team member), witnessed the torch relay as it ran down her very street! Everyone she knew who lived in the area were there, sitting on sidewalks and climbing trees to get a better look at the flame. The atmosphere was warm and exciting, as many people watching knew the torchbearer for that kilometre, the ex-olympian Sherry Sutton.

After her run, Sherry described the experience as a privilege. He was glowing with happiness having being chosen to run with so many local heroes and athletes. She was probably also flustered from the many hugs she received from friends and family along the stretch of road.

Heroes are an important part of our society. They are there because of what they have done. We can all be heroes - but it does take work and a bit of effort.