From the hands of the traditional owners the flame then ignited the torch of Australia's first torch bearer, Nova Peris-Kneebone. Several Indigenous celebrities and sportspeople were among the early runners including Ernie Dingo, Gary Ella, Nicky Winmar and Yvonne Goolagong Cawley. Amongst other torchbearers, Nicola Severino stands out, she is the first Anangu torchbearer and the first Aboriginal person from Central Australia to carry the torch for the 2000 Olympic Games. After receiving the flame from Yvonne Goolagong Cawley, and some quick shots for the cameras, Nicola starts her relay around Uluru. I get to carry it past two of the most important places in my life, Pulari, the women's sacred site, and the place where my husband, Dave, and I were married.
Today is our third wedding anniversary to the day.
Also being a traditional owner, it is a real honour for me. I think Anangu people running around Uluru, running on their traditional land, being part of a world event and being treated as equally as everybody else in the world, is pretty important.