O'Loughlin a 'Celebrity Buddy'

Michael O’Loughlin was a special guest and ‘Celebrity Buddy’ at the 2006 Take 5 Brave Heart Awards held at Sydney Aquarium, Darling Harbour, recently.

The ceremony honoured and celebrated the achievements of five young Australians who have showed courage beyond their years.

The five finalists were Kian Tobin, Harrison Tovey, Jay Bull, Brayden Foxley-Connolly and Cheyenne Dean.

The competition was judged by Australian of the Year Steve Waugh and Father of the Year Ron Delezio and attended by other celebrity buddies Shannon Noll, Toni Pearen, Bianca Dye and Lara Bingle.

The buddies were each paired with one of the children for the day and taken on a tour around the Aquarium following the ceremony.

O’Loughlin was Harrison Tovey’s buddy; a 12 year-old from Gatton in Queensland. He was born with a rare form of deliberating dwarfism and despite numerous operations and being confined to a wheelchair, it hasn’t stopped the young boy pursuing his dream of playing cricket.

“It is an honour to be involved in this ceremony and support a cause that recognises these young Australians,” O’Loughlin said.

“After meeting Harrison it certainly puts your life into perspective, he is an amazing kid.”