Just over two months remain until the 21st annual Australia Day Aquathon is held on the Wollongong foreshore. The 2020 swim-run event was officially launched on Friday morning.

Apps teamed up with St George Illawarra Dragons community manager Adam Bezzina to compete in the 2019 Aquathon and said it provided a great fitness test.

"I thought it was really fun. It's a great way for kids and adults to go out and get active," Apps said.

"Myself and Adam entered in the 'mini' Aquathon, which was a 200m swim and 2km run. I was coming back from a broken leg at the time so it was a good intro for me to start running again. It was a great day but it was pretty challenging.

"The Aquathon is something we [Dragons] have supported for a number of years now. We bring down some merchandise for the kids and the Dragons' Jersey Flegg team comes down too as part of their pre-season training. It's really good to see the Dragons out and around the community."

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"Community" is also a key word for Aquathon event director Rob Battocchio.

"I think it's become ingrained in the Wollongong psyche that this is our fun, City to Surf kind of event," he said.

"I'm proud of what Wollongong does but for a regional city, the ability to make anything happens needs considerable community buy in. By getting the community behind it, it's celebrating Australia Day as a community day."

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