It was a "surreal" once in a lifetime sight - a long line of cars pulled over to the side of the usually busy Pacific Highway in Heatherbrae, drivers out of their cars smiling, waving and taking pictures of Katie Turrell as she ran past them carrying the Olympic torch.
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Ms Turrell (nee Hall) was one of 13 people selected to run in the Olympic Torch Relay when it passed through Raymond Terrace on August 27, 2000 on the way to the Sydney Games.
She was 19 at the time, but even 20 years later Ms Turrell remembers her 700 metre run - 300m longer than most - with the torch and the huge celebrations in her hometown to mark the occasion.
"It was bizarre to be running on the road of the highway, to see everything just stopped and everyone waving at you like you're a celebrity," she said.
"I started at the little [Adelaide Street] roundabout and ran out of Raymond Terrace towards the big roundabout at Heatherbrae and right down the highway to Homeworld.
"I was in the car lanes and the traffic was just stopped. No one had been allowed to go through for some time before we were scheduled to run on the road. A very long line of traffic had been stopped but everyone was out of their cars waving and taking photos.
"It was a once in a lifetime opportunity to run with the torch, but even to watch it pass through your town was very special.
"There was a huge buzz around the Olympics and the fact that it was coming to Raymond Terrace. We don't really see Raymond Terrace as being on a national level. Port Stephens is mainly known for the Bay so it was really nice for it to come through the Terrace."
Ms Turrell is a 30-year member of the Raymond Terrace Athletics Centre. In her teenage years, she collected many titles, state and national, for athletics.
It made her an ideal candidate to run with the torch as part of the 100 day relay, which ended at the then newly constructed Sydney Olympic Stadium on September 15, 2000 - the start of the 2000 Games.
Other residents who ran with the torch included Aaron Lightfoot, Anna Heasman, Joe Sepps, Jan Rees, Jim Booth, Morgan Arndell, Gareth Doyle, Wayne Sheperd, Vicky Voyzey, Kurt Lloyd and Patrick Byron. Each was accompanied by two support people.
Paralympian Heath Francis, a training buddy of Mrs Turrell's at the time and who went on to three gold and one silver medals at the Sydney Games, ran the Bulahdelah leg of the relay. Following the relay, Ms Turrell and Mr Francis, an arm amputee, visited schools in the area with the torch. They collected $1 from students who wished to take a photo with the torch, which was donated to Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service.
The torch made its way down the east coast of NSW, stopping in Karuah and Raymond Terrace on Sunday, August 27.
As the Examiner reported in the August 30, 2000 edition of the paper, more than 10,000 people turned out to a 'giant party' hosted by Port Stephens Council in Raymond Terrace, on the sports ground behind the council chambers, when the flame arrived in town.
Hugh Lambie, a Fingal Bay resident who competed at the 1948 Olympic Games in London for rowing, carried the torch into Raymond Terrace and lit a cauldron on a stage that had been filled with music and performances throughout the day.
Ms Turrell carried the torch out of town as it made its way to Newcastle. Her grandfather purchased the torch that she ran with, a cost of $400, which she still owns today.
"I was too nervous about my section of the run to take part in the celebrations before it arrived," she said. "Afterwards though, we had a big family celebration at my brother's house.
"I remember worrying about my run. I was worried the flame would go out, I was concentrating on the wind and which way to hold the torch.
"We were told not to run too fast, to walk in some sections. Then you had to remember to flick the switch at the bottom of the torch to set the gas off when the flame was coming towards you so you are literally passing flame to flame, then turning it off.
"After you're done you jumped on a mini bus and they exchanged gas canisters. If you bought your torch they gave it to you then and there, so you knew you were getting the torch you ran with. It was really special. Once in a lifetime."
Ms Turrell said another highlight of the 2000 Olympics was being in the stadium to watch Cathy Freeman win gold in the 400m final.
"The roar when she was coming down the home straight was just unbelievable," she said.
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Ellie-Marie Watts
A journalist with 10 years experience, Ellie-Marie connects readers to the stories that matter in their communities. A Port Stephens-based news, sport and event writer and photographer with a passion for human interest features.
A journalist with 10 years experience, Ellie-Marie connects readers to the stories that matter in their communities. A Port Stephens-based news, sport and event writer and photographer with a passion for human interest features.
