Community
6 December, 2024
Catching up with Grace
RESIDENTS had the opportunity to meet Paris Olympic gold medalist Grace Brown last Thursday for a special session.
Ms Brown visited the Camperdown Uniting Church at 3.15pm last Thursday for a question and answer session with members of the congregation and the wider community, where she spoke about her Olympic journey and cycling career.
Organiser of the church session Colin Hayman said he had prepared for 50 people.
“We had a good number here – a good mix of both church and community, which was the aim of having it here,” he said.
“I think it’s special - Grace and her family have been part of the church, and it was special for us to have Grace here in the church building just to recognise that they were an important part of the congregation and the community as well.
“It was special that she could make time to see us.”
During the question and answer session, residents had the opportunity to hold Ms Brown’s gold medal from Paris, as well as one of her world championship medals.
The session concluded with the opportunity to have photos taken with the Olympian and her medals.
Ms Brown said it was “lovely” to return to Camperdown and visit the congregation her and her family were a part of during her childhood.
“I’m very happy to be able to come back and share the enthusiasm with everyone I know,” she said.
“A lot of people stayed up late to watch my Olympic race and have been following all my other races as well in my career.
“It’s nice to come back here and share a bit of the fun of it all.
“Thank you to everyone. Coming from a small town like Camperdown, you can do cool things.
“I hope that other young people from Camperdown can dream big as well.”
The Camperdown Uniting Church congregation gifted Ms Brown with a booklet filled with messages from members of the church group.
Ms Brown also gave some advice to younger members of the community who have been inspired by her and Penny Smith’s Olympic performance this year.
“Don’t get overwhelmed by some big goal – take it one step at a time,” she said.
“Think, this is what I can do, I might just aim a little bit further than that and see if I can get there”.
“Quite often, you surprise yourself when you just go towards something ad accept that it is going to be a bit hard.”
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