Six weeks of school holidays will end on runner’s high on Monday afternoon when the Queen’s Baton Relay (QBR) arrives in Parkes on Day 35 of its 100-day journey around Australia leading up to the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.
On Monday, 29th January the baton will leave West Wyalong, travel to Forbes and then onto Parkes for one of only eight overnight stops in NSW. In Parkes 19 selected batonbearers will carry the baton around the CBD with the relay starting at 4.30pm at Memorial Hill. Olympian athlete Scott Westcott will start the relay and run down Memorial Hill to meet Rebeckah Auld at the bottom in Bushman Street. She will carry on and turn right into Albert Street and hand over to Amanda Draper. Amanda will turn left into Victoria Street where Barry Garment will be waiting on her.
Barry will turn right into High Street to meet up with Peter Bristol. Peter will carry the baton down High Street to Helen Magill waiting near the corner of Wentworth Street. Helen will carry the baton into Bushman Hill Reserve to Nicayden Greenwood. He will run back to Wentworth Street where his grandfather Michael Greenwood will be waiting on him. Michael will turn left into Currajong Street and meet Barbara Weaver about 300m further down the road. Barbara will stay in Currajong until she gets to Maureen Massey. Maureen will turn right into Victoria street and take the baton to Richard Rice at the roundabout in Clarinda Street. Richard will go down Clarinda to meet Frances Dixon near the second roundabout, and she will carry on to hand over to Cato Rutherford in Clarinda Street.
Staying in Clarinda Street, Cato will hand over to Lauren Neilsen, and Lauren will meet up with Timothy Keith in Clarinda Street near Cooke Park. Tim will turn right into Short Street and hand the baton over to his brother, Parkes Mayor Ken Keith. The Mayor will turn right into Welcome Street and meet up with Danielle Hoskins. Danielle will go left into Cecile Street to get to Victoria Simpson.
Victoria will complete the second last leg of the relay by turning right into Bogan Street where Darrin Gibson will be waiting to take the baton on its final leg down Dalton Street and into the Parkes Aquatic Centre at 5:28pm.
Residents are encouraged to cheer on the local legends at several good vantage points along the route. The Parkes Community Celebration will start at the pool at 5:30pm with a family friendly pool party, free entry from 4pm until 7pm, outdoor games, and entertainment.
The Queen’s Baton will arrive on the Gold Coast for the XXI Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony on 4th April. See a detailed map of the route at https://www.gc2018.com/qbr#gc2018-qbr-parentmap