DIRECTOR of The Queen's Jubilee Baton Relay, Di Henry, has called on villages, towns and cities cross the United Kingdom to demonstrate the same community spirit for The Queen's Jubilee Baton Relay as was shown during the Sydney 2000 Olympic Torch Relay.

The call for UK community support follows an Australia Day Honour - The Order of Australia Medal (OAM) - to Ms Henry in recognition of her former position as Director of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Torch Relay.

The Torch Relay in Australia was widely regarded as playing a pivotal role in generating national support for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, later described by former International Olympic Committee President Juan Antonio Samaranch as the best ever.

Ms Henry was also presented with the Olympic Order by the International Olympic Committee last October.

Di today said she was deeply honoured to receive the OAM in Australia's equivalent of the UK's New Year and Birthday Honours. She praised Sydney 2000 Olympic Torch Relay runners, staff and volunteers who helped the Olympic Flame on its journey across Australia.

"This award really belongs to the 11,000 Torchbearers who inspired Australia, and people around the world, through feats of bravery and self-sacrifice in a magnificent tribute to the power of the human spirit," Ms Henry said.

Ms Henry added that communities across the United Kingdom would also have the opportunity to honour their community heroes by lining the route of The Queen's Baton Relay, the traditional curtainraiser to the Commonwealth Games since the 1958 Games in Cardiff.

In Jubilee year, the Queen's Jubilee Baton Relay will visit 22 Commonwealth countries, before embarking on a spectacular 50-day tour of the UK on June 6. Visiting Northern Ireland, Scotland, Isle of Man, Guernsey, Jersey, Wales and England, The Relay will travel within an hour's drive of 95 per cent of the UK population.

Five thousand people, including Jubilee Runners nominated by the public, athletes and celebrities will share the honour of carrying The Baton, which contains a message from the Queen calling competitors to the Games.

"I have had a little peek at some of the nominations we have received and am humbled by the number of extraordinary people living in our communities. We have a Relay that this country will be proud of and we have Jubilee Runners who will inspire, motivate and astonish us all," added Ms Henry.

It is appropriate that today, of all days, we should be thinking about our community heroes both in Australia and the UK said Ms Henry.