To witness the outpouring of support and admiration for my niece Shelley at Saturday’s parade was overwhelming. While beaming, there were also many times I had tears well up as the gravity of the whole situation took hold.

Our family, like many in the Camden Haven, is extremely close, and to be inundated with accolades for Shelley’s achievement has been humbling, to say the least. People unknown to us had sought out phone numbers and rang to congratulate Shelley as they had no other avenue of showing their support.

To experience something like this is rare. Our family has always been sport orientated, and without sounding egotistical, we had our fair share of “titles” in tennis, squash, swimming, athletics, rugby league and cricket. Darts was even among them at one stage.

What we as a family have witnessed of Shelley, however, is in a completely different league. Sacrifice, limitless commitment and personal strength in the face of some adversity and lack of opportunity led Shelley to where she is today and where she will go.

While we knew the community would get behind Shelley on her quest for gold and subsequently the celebration on Saturday, we did not envisage to what extent and it was an extremely proud moment for all of us when we saw just how many people had turned out to show how they were feeling.

But, it could not have happened without the efforts of an incredible bunch of people. Our gratitude and admiration goes out to Kate Dwyer, the managing editor of the Camden Haven Courier, for her ongoing interest, support and organisation of the event on Saturday, Glenn and Kobie Knight from Laurieton Hotel for supporting Shelley for many years and for being so approachable and giving when it came to events in her honour, Casey and Scott Parker from Adrenalin Fitness for allowing Shelley to use their facilities to continue her training when she was home and Stewart O’Brien from First National Real Estate North Haven for ensuring Shelley had every chance of making it to the big time. There have been many, many other supporters, however, that need just as big a shout-out. Gayl Ellis from North Haven created one of the most amazing video presentations which followed Shelley’s life from birth to gold. Pauline Hearne excelled in the baking arena with a cake that MasterChef judges and Rembrandt would have been jealous of. Grant Timmins, the relieving principal of Laurieton Public School was brilliant on the microphone as MC on Saturday night. The students from Laurieton Public made one of the most outstanding card tributes I have seen with each class passing on their personal messages to Shelley. And to everyone who may have contributed financially with donations, there is no doubting without that, there would have been no gold medal.

So, from the family of parents, brothers, in-laws, aunts, uncles, grandparents, nieces, nephews, cousins and all in between, thank you.

Most of all, however, thank you Shelley. My diatribe will never do justice to how the family is feeling and how proud we are.

Anthony Watts

Laurieton