Darling Downs hosts the Queen's Baton Relay
More than 110 local legends have taken part in the Queen’s Baton Relay (QBR) through Dalby, Oakey and Toowoomba, just seven days out from the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (GC2018) Opening Ceremony where the Queen’s message will finally be read aloud to declare the Games open.
The QBR convoy woke Dalby residents bright and early as batonbearers walked, jogged, skipped and danced down the farming community’s streets.
Described by peers as a ‘passionate young Indigenous woman actively involved in her community’, Adelayde McKellar is the region’s Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Young Citizen of 2017.
“I’ve been active in my community trying to get more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people like myself, to get more involved in their local show societies and their local communities.”
For the 17-year-old, who was crowned Miss Teen Show Girl for the region just two weeks ago, carrying the Queen’s Baton was an honour.
“It is such a privilege, the Welcome To Country and digeridoo to be playing whilst I exited the school with the Queen’s Baton, it was such a privilege and I’m just so excited.”
Perched 700 metres above sea level and overlooking the Lockyer Valley, the 'Garden City' of Toowoomba was the final stop of the day in the Darling Downs region, before travelling to Warwick, Gatton and Ipswich tomorrow.