“I’ve been up here on a few occasions over the years, mostly on speaking engagements, but it’s a great place. I love it,” Rafferty, the Mildura Masters Games patron said.

“I know you could do with some more rain, but it’s a really nice place, I like the sunshine up here and the people are very, very friendly.”

Rafferty flies or drives long distances now and has no plan to compete at this year’s games.

But he is in for a marathon effort doing the public relations rounds across the various sports.

Ironically it was a publicity stunt which thrust him into the national and international spotlight and established him as the pioneer of ultra-marathon running.

It was 1972 and Rafferty was working at the Golden Bowl Fitness Centre, in Camberwell. He volunteered to run from Sydney to Melbourne to market the centre.

For more of this story, purchase your copy of Wednesday’s Sunraysia Daily 19/08/2009.