Travelling to remote rural Victoria, the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (GC2018) Queen’s Baton Relay (QBR) has delighted hundreds of schoolchildren as it brings communities across the region together to share the spirit of the Games.
Starting at Murrabit Group School, the Queen’s Baton took its first steps of the day in the hands of well-loved local Neil Hopkins.
"It’s fantastic for the community that the Queen’s Baton Relay is in town as a lot of hard work has gone into today to make it special for our kids and everyone who lives here, we’re really thrilled.
"I’d been principal at the school for the last ten and a half years before I retired last year, so to bring the Relay to the school is very special as we want to make sure our kids don’t miss out on anything just because they are rural kids. To have something as big as the Relay in our community has given everyone a buzz and something we will remember for the rest of our lives.
"The Queen’s Baton Relay is putting Murrabit on the map so people can see how great of a place it is, as we like to call it God’s own country up here. I couldn’t live in a better place, I love the people and I love the community."
From the streets of Murrabit, the QBR travelled to Kerang, starting its trip through town at St Joseph’s Primary School. Children dressed in maroon and blue lined the streets to cheer on their local batonbearers, some with the flags of all 70 nations and territories of the Commonwealth pinned onto their uniforms.
Bringing the Queen’s Baton home to a community celebration in his hometown was legendary country music singer John Williamson AM.
"I hope my shows inspire Aussies to be proud of themselves and where they come from, and the Queen’s Baton Relay is a great way for kids and the community to see how we celebrate being Australian. There were a few ‘oi, oi, ois!’ from the crowd when I carried the Queen’s Baton into the park.
"It was wonderful seeing all the kids here in the same town I grew up, where I learned the banjo and the guitar and started my career.
"My family and I are going to the Commonwealth Games and we’re looking forward to watching the Rugby Sevens among other sports. We just can’t wait to support and be part of such a fantastic event on home soil."
The Queen’s Baton is this afternoon on its way to Swan Hill. Tomorrow is the QBR’s last day in Victoria; it will visit Nyah, Robinvale and Mildura before moving into South Australia.
QBR URL: gc2018.com/qbr
QBR Hashtag: #QBR2018
Keri Algar – [email protected] / +61 466 381 305
Media Team, Queen’s Baton Relay
Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation (GOLDOC)
Trish Quayle – [email protected] / +61 466 355 886
Communications and Marketing Manager, Queen’s Baton Relay
Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation (GOLDOC)
The Queen’s Baton Relay is counting down the days until the start of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (GC2018).
In Australia, the Queen’s Baton will traverse 40,000km, travelling through every state and territory for 100 days.
The Queen’s Baton will be carried by more than 440 batonbearers in Victoria.
Approximately 3,800 batonbearers will carry the Queen’s Baton across Australia.
The Queen’s Baton Relay started on Commonwealth Day, Monday 13 March 2017, at Buckingham Palace when Her Majesty placed Her message inside of the Baton.
The Queen’s Baton has already been passed between thousands of people for 288 days across Africa, the Caribbean, the Americas, Europe, Asia and Oceania, building excitement for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (GC2018).
The Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (GC2018) Queen’s Baton Relay is the longest and most accessible in history, travelling through the entire Commonwealth for 388 days and 230,000km.
The distinctive design of the Queen’s Baton captures the boundless energy of the Gold Coast. In form and inspiration, the Queen’s Baton is a symbol of our past, present and future.
The Queen’s Baton arrives on the Gold Coast for the XXI Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony on 4 April 2018, where HRH The Prince of Wales will remove Her Majesty’s message from the Baton and read it aloud to declare the Games open. ---
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