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Crikey! Robert Irwin carries GC2018 Queen's Baton
The Queen’s Baton has today taken an intrepid nature trip in the hands of Wildlife Warrior Robert Irwin.
Stopping in at Australia Zoo, Irwin held the Queen’s Baton with help from two special Zoo residents, Fatty, a 19-year-old short beaked echidna, and a black headed python called Frasier.
“I felt so honoured to be chosen as part of the Queen’s Baton Relay today at Australia Zoo.
“It was incredible to hold the Baton before the [Gold Coast] 2018 Commonwealth Games, along with so many other amazing people around the world including the Queen herself. It’s been really exciting to be a part of Commonwealth history here at Australia Zoo.”
Earlier in the morning in Caloundra, crowds were thick through the streets to support the 25 batonbearers whose each step takes the Queen’s Baton closer to the start of GC2018, including Denise Morcombe OAM and Bruce Morcombe OAM.
Surrounded by friends, family and supporters of the Daniel Morcombe Foundation donned in their iconic red, the Morcombes shared an emotional moment when the Queen’s Baton was passed between them.
For community leader, volunteer and author, Rhondda Alexander, being a Batonbearer was a chance to shine a light on environmental issues and the importance of including the whole community in the Queen’s Baton Relay (QBR).
“A big part of what I do is to encourage youth to recognise sustainability. I have been working with the schools and we are getting to the stage now where our children are actually taking notice of environmental issues, and we need to keep that moving.
“It’s nice to have people a part of the Relay that aren’t just sports people be able to promote all the good things others in the community are doing.
“With me carrying the Queen’s Baton I’m doing it for my work as an environmentalist and it’s saying, ‘Hey it’s more than just about sports people [involved in the Relay]’, the environment has to be good before any sport any happen!”
The Queen’s Baton ended day 92 in Kingaroy, the largest town in the South Burnett and central to this diverse and beautiful region. Tomorrow the Baton travels to Dalby, Oakey and Toowoomba as it continues to count down the days until the start of the Games.
See Caloundra and Australia Zoo image gallery
