When Mel Currey went along to a boot camp session with her daughter roughly six years ago she could never have imagined what it would lead to.
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Fast forward those few years and a catalogue of incredible acts of strength and determination, and Currey found herself standing in front of her community having been named Dubbo's Sportsperson of the Year.
Currey was one of the big winners at the Australia Day awards at Victoria Park, gaining recognition for becoming a leading endurance and obstacle course athlete, not only at home but at a global level.
The resolute Currey most recently contested the Ultra Spartan World Championships in Sweden, a 24 hour event where athletes complete as many laps as possible of a course filled with obstacles ranging from climbing walls, to deep blankets of snow and rows of barbed wire.
She had previously been the only Australian woman to compete in the 72 hour Agoge in Mongolia, represented Australia in Canada and finished in the top 10 in her class, contested a 24 hour event in Iceland and was third woman overall to finish, and taken part in the world championships in Sydney.
There's been a host of other events as well for the woman who is focused on other people's development as much as her own.
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And it all stems from signing up to a local tough mudder course with her daughter's boot camp class.
"I thought I'd sign up with the boot camp and do it and be part of the team," she said, looking back.
"As it got closer everyone started dropping out and a week out I was the only one left registered. I thought it was my challenge and I'd go in anyway.
"I went and I finished it but what I learnt was although I started as an individual and terrified because everyone else was in teams, people encouraged me and it was an amazing feeling to be part of that.
"From that point on I felt I had the responsibility to do the same thing and it changed my life because it showed what spirit of the community can do and how you can get through things which can be difficult by having people around you and encouraging you."
As Currey stated, the lessons she's learned competing all over the world are now ones she uses in all aspects of her life.
We have a responsibility to show people what you can do when you put your mind to it.
- Mel Currey
Whether it be sitting an office and dealing with a problem at work or battling through a blizzard in Iceland, Currey approaches it all the same.
"We have a responsibility to show people what you can do when you put your mind to it," she said.
"We say it all the time and I've said it to my children and grandchildren but sometimes you need to show them.
"I just think we don't truly know what we're capable of. Our bodies are probably capable of 30 times more than what we ask it to do but our minds hold us back.
"It's really important to get in touch with our minds and expand our belief in our selves and abilities and tap into that bit extra."
Currey still gets the odd question from people asking why on Earth she'd take part in events and she laughed when adding she has been asked if she's crazy.
But again it comes back to community and spirit, with the things she's learned all over the world helping her make an impact at a local level.
Currey's previously provided advice on training and nutrition for a young person in Dubbo who was preparing to undertake the Kokoda Trek, she joined two others locals to raise funds and complete the Oxfam Trail Walker in Sydney, and she attended the the Orana Relay for Life and carried 72kg of weight for 20kms to raise awareness of the effects that carrying extra weight can have on our health and the link between this and cancer.
It's that pride in community that made Sunday's award so special.
"It was amazing and it probably my most proud thing, to be recognised by your own community," she said.
"I've achieved a lot in the world but that by far the proudest thing."
It has been Australia's lost summer. Drought, hail, floods and, worst of all, bushfires have ravaged communities all over the nation. But the selfless actions of friends, family, neighbours, strangers, local groups and volunteer organisations have inspired us and strengthened the bonds of community. Please join us in saying thanks to the heroes of the home front by sharing your stories of gratitude. To salute a person or a group, please use the form below.