THE Gunnedah community flocked to the streets of town to cheer on their family and friends as they carried the Queen’s Baton Relay.
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People of all ages and all walks of life followed the baton as it passed through the hands of 27 deserving local heroes to help celebrate the countdown to the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games on April 4.
The baton began its journey at the Gunnedah South Public School in the hands of young Isabella Sawyer as it traveled along Stock Road, down Rodney Street and onto Marquis Street to visit Gunnedah High School.
Gunnedah Shire mayor Jamie Chaffey told Fairfax Media at the beginning of the baton’s journey through Gunnedah that the event would be very memorable.
“This is a great event for our community,” Cr Chaffey said.
“We have so many deserving community members carrying the baton today and it is so great to see the whole community come out to support them.”
After the students at Gunnedah High School experienced the Queen’s Baton, the batonbearers lead by worthy locals such as Kathyrn Day-McGuirk, Margret Amos and Greg Piggott brought the baton down Marquis Street, along Barber Street and Tempest Street before heading down Bloomfield Street.
Once on Bloomfield Street, batonbearers such as Wade Hudson, Leslie Knox and Michelle Dunlop brought the Queen’s Baton to Kitchener Park where they received a rapturous reception.
Students from across the Gunnedah shire gathered at Kitchener Park to appreciate the unique event.
Kids from schools such as St Mary’s College, Tambar Springs Public School and Curlewis Public School shared the unforgettable experience with batonbearers Sarah-Jane Bonner and Ronald Clissold.
Noreen Bohem kicked off the home-stretch of the relay as it began to head down Conadilly Street towards Wolseley Park.
The Gunnedah community filled the footpaths along Conadilly Street to see Commonwealth Games legend’s Ray Godkin OAM and Sara Carrigan OAM hand the baton on to Josie Luckel and Ron McLean ahead of the relay’s final stop at Wolseley Park.
Mr McLean thanked the community at the end of the relay.
“I want to thank everyone for making this day so memorable,” Mr McLean said.
“There has been a lot of effort put into today’s celebration and I want to thank everyone for coming out to help us celebrate.”