They come in all shapes and sizes and they don’t always reveal their identities. 

One we have in this edition is Inspector Steve Johnson, whose alter ego can be Captain America or, if the mood takes him, The Phantom. But that’s not why we regard him as a superhero. It’s his work outside the police force and away from the masks and capes and shields of his passion for comic books that has caught our attention.

Steve is a superhero for all the voluntary work he does for his community. He’s often out and about, manning sausage sizzles or teaching children how to fish. And he’s not alone. 

On another page in this edition, we highlight the work of the Turner family, who rolled up their sleeves the moment they heard of the cyclone that ripped through Vanuatu. Their voluntary work has paid off, easing the misery of those whose schools and homes were wrecked by Cyclone Pam.

In fact, if we think about it, we are blessed by superheroes at every turn, from the canteen ladies at our schools to the organisers and administrators of community sports clubs, to the Bushcare and Landcare volunteers who look after the environment, to the SES and RFS who come to our aid in times of disaster … well, the list goes on and on.

So we are excited to hear the upcoming Shoalhaven Superheroes Festival will not only celebrate the fictional characters we have all grown up with (OK, some of us, haven’t really grown up at all) but also the volunteer superheroes who walk among us.

In coming weeks, nominations will be called for people to submit their superhero volunteers – people who make a contribution to their community, those who make a difference. It’s an initiative the Register backs 100 per cent because we know there are many superheroes out there; we tell their stories every week.

And, like you, we can’t wait to honour them. So stay tuned.