Whitsundays’ Queen’s Baton Bearers announced

The region’s tourism organisation has welcomed the announcement of the Queen’s Baton Bearers for the 2018 Commonwealth Games, with 28 Whitsunday residents on the list including several tourism “identities”.

The Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, in April 2018, will be the largest sporting event Australia has seen this decade and the biggest sporting spectacular the Gold Coast has ever staged.

In the lead-up to the Games, the Queen’s Baton will make its journey around Australia, carried by 3,800 baton bearers across Australia, over 100 days. In Queensland alone, the baton will visit 83 communities.

Tourism Whitsundays CEO Craig Turner said it was fantastic to see so many Whitsundays residents in the line-up.

“The Queen’s Baton Bearers are nominated by their peers for achievements and contributions to their community, so it a great honour to be chosen,” he said.

“The baton bearers play an important role in the lead-up to the Commonwealth Games, representing the spirit of the Commonwealth and inspiring others to be great. Every person on the list should be very proud and we were pleased to see some of our tourism industry on there including one of our board members Jan Claxton, from Ocean Rafting.

“I hope the Queen’s Baton Relay will also shine a light on our region and showcase us to the world, who will be watching in their millions.”

On April 4, 2018, more than 6,600 athletes and team officials from 70 nations and territories will converge on the Gold Coast for an 11-day sporting and cultural event.

With the support of close to 15,000 passionate and friendly volunteers, a spectacle of 18 sports and 7 para-sports will be contested and broadcast to a cumulative global audience of 1.5 billion.

The Whitsundays Queen’s Baton Bearers are listed below. The exact route the baton will take will be announced on November 17.

Queen’s Baton Bearers (Whitsundays)

Heather Batrick - Cannon Valley; Edmund Patrick Brazil – Bowen; Gary Bruce – Bowen; Veronica Carroll – Collinsville; Lisa Christofersen - Cannonvale; Jan Claxton – Cannon Valley; Max Cockrem – Bowen; Denver Cross – Bowen; Gloria Demartini - Cannonvale; John Dickinson – Jubilee Pocket; Wendy Downes – Cannonvale; Esther Gabey - Proserpine; Jack Groocock – Collinsville; Lee-Anne Hinschen – Strathdickie; David Insch – Bowen; Stephen Jackson – Jubilee Pocket; Margaret Annette Kostowski – Bowen; Pam Lawley – Mt Low; Gary Martin – Bowen; Howard McDonald – Proserpine; Daniel Merrypor – Bowen; Georgia Murray – Cannonvale; David Nicholas – Proserpine; Tim Oberg – Cannonvale; Monica Oriel – South Yarra; Brian Ryle – Bowen; Mark Steen – Bowen; Christian Turner – Hamilton Island