The Queen’s Baton will travel on Lake Forbes in a dragon boat on the local leg of its epic journey to the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
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Forbes Shire mayor Graeme Miller has invited everyone to be a part of the celebration as the relay passes through town on January 29 on its way to the Games on the Gold Coast.
Wendy Green, Robyn Kenny, Paul Cameron, Ethan Markwort, Rob Willis, Lester Sheather, Peter Moore, Chris Roylance, Phil Adams, Denise Jelbart, Yvonne Shaw, Taylah Hemming, James Smart and Robyn Lyell have been selected to carry the baton through town with a celebration event being held for the whole community.
The baton’s journey within Forbes will begin on a dragon boat, carried by Wendy Green, as it travels along the lake to the bowling club.
On land from the club, the baton will then be carried to the skate park and on to Stephan Field for the community celebration.
The Golf Club is the baton’s final stop in Forbes before it goes to Parkes.
“It is a very great honour to have such a fine group of people selected from our community to carry the baton and for our town to be able to host an event for the baton relay,” the mayor said.
“I really encourage everyone to come down and celebrate with our baton bearers. I think it will be one of those special events that we will always remember.”
The community celebration will include music and entertainment, a skate park demonstration and peach ice cream made with local produce.
Celebrations commence at 2pm with the baton expected to arrive at 2.30pm.
Mayor Miller also encouraged people to show support for the baton bearers as it passes through town – the route through the streets will be publicised before the day.
“Please come out and cheer along the baton and its bearers, let’s show everyone what a supportive community we are,” he said.
The 14 members of the Forbes community who have been nominated and selected to run with the baton have received their uniforms and instructions, including where they will run.
This year’s baton is made from macadamia wood, stainless steel and reclaimed plastic designed using surfboard dynamics and design principles.
The Queen's Baton Relay began at Buckingham Palace on March 13, 2017 and will finish at Main Beach on the Gold Coast on April 4, 2018.
When the Queen's Baton arrives at the Gold Coast for the XXI Commonwealth Games a message from the Queen will be removed from the baton and read to officially open the games.
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