Ron Clark is on the committee and a race organiser with the Newstead Harriers, which is the oldest amateur athletic club in Northern Tasmania and began in 1933.

Ron inspired us by his life of running and his selfless service towards members of the community that is quite touching and special. Ron is 68 years-old and joined the World Harmony Run team in a couple of kms run with other townsfolk through their village. Ron's best marathon time in the past was 2 hr, 36 min and achieved 71 min for the half marathon. He is still running marathons in his 60s and the extraordinary part of the story is that his last marathon took him 4 hrs, 02 min where he accompanied a blind man, holding an end of his stick the entire 42km journey and helping him cross the line when leg cramps attacked just before the finish line!

The tales of Ron's running and self-giving personal service to other members of his community like this deeply touched our hearts and brought us much inspiration for our own journey around Australia. We are honoured to give the Torch-Bearer Award to a true hero of the heart such as Ron Clark.

Actually, Ron Clark once met our National Patron Ron Clarke many years ago and Ron Clarke jokingly noted the difference in spelling of their surnames.