March 27, 2018
The excitement’s building for the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games … and today it’s the South Burnett’s turn to celebrate!
The Queen’s Baton will be passing through Kingaroy on Tuesday afternoon on one of the last legs of it 230,000km journey to the Gold Coast from London.
Relay organisers and the South Burnett Regional Council have planned a big afternoon and evening of free celebrations in Memorial Park – including a fireworks display at 8:00pm – to mark the historic occasion.
Spectators are also invited to line the route of the Relay through Kingaroy (see maps, below).
The Queen’s Baton Relay will begin about 4:30pm in Baron Street (at the rear of the Kingaroy soccer fields) and then pass down Kingaroy, Haly, Edward, Youngman, Haly, Glendon, Markwell and William streets to finish at the rotunda in Memorial Park about 5:30pm.
Council has planned a fun afternoon for families in the park from 4:00pm, with free amusement rides and face-painting for the kids plus food stalls, demonstrations and prizes.
The Queen’s Baton began its long journey to the Gold Coast on Commonwealth Day last year – March 13 – at Buckingham Palace in London.
It is carrying a message from the Queen and has been passed from hand to hand in every Commonwealth nation and territory on its way to Australia.
Unlike Olympic torch relays, there is only one Queen’s Baton which means it has its own security detail to keep it safe.
The Baton arrived in Australia on Christmas Day last year and has been working its way through every State and Territory since then.
It came to Queensland on March 3.
On Monday, legs of the Relay were run in Gympie and Caloundra; and on Tuesday, it will resume in Noosa before moving to Kilcoy and Kingaroy.
It will then move on to Oakey, Dalby, Toowoomba and Warwick and Brisbane.
The Queen’s Baton will finish its journey at the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony on the Gold Coast on April 4.
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Queen’s Baton Route
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Road Closures
William Street will be closed from 7:00am to 9:00pm between Haly Street and Alford Street.
The following roads will close and then re-open after the relay convoy has passed through:
3:00pm – Kingaroy Street (between Haly & Avoca streets)
3:00pm – Glendon Street (between Haly & Markwell streets)
3:00pm – Alford Street West and Alford Street (east of Glendon Street)
3:15pm – Markwell Street (between eastern side Glendon Street & Youngman Street)
3:15pm – Closure of entrance and exits to Shoppingworld (Glendon & Markwell streets)
3:15pm – Closure of car park behind Broadway Hotel (Glendon Street)
3:30pm – Baron Street, River Road & Kingaroy Street
3:30pm – Haly Street and Jarrah Street intersection
3:30pm – Edward Street (between Albert & Youngman streets)
4:00pm – Markwell Street (between Youngman and William streets)
4:00pm – Markwell Street (western side of William Street)
4:00pm – William Street (southern side of Markwell Street)
4:00pm – Alford Street (both sides of the William Street intersection)
4:00pm – Closure of Markwell Street entrance to Aldi car park
4:30pm – Closure of Avoca Street and Kingaroy Street intersection
4:30pm – Trussell Street and Freemans Lane at Youngman Street
4:30pm – King Street (eastern side of Youngman Street)
4:30pm – John Street (eastern side of Youngman Street)
4:30pm – Queen Street (western side of Youngman Street)
4:30pm – Sawtell Street (western side of Youngman Street)
4:30pm – George Street (northern side of Haly Street)
4:45pm – Haly Street & Glendon Street intersection
4:45pm – Closure of exit of Circular Place, Glendon Street
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There are about 3800 baton bearers in Australia. The baton bearers selected for the Kingaroy leg are:
- Floyd Aubrey – Murgon
- Amanda Austin – Wilsonton
- Pacey Clegg – Kingaroy
- Paul Clegg – Taabinga
- Stephen Copas – Wooroolin
- Rowena Dionysius – Kingaroy
- Gabrielle Duncombe – Cooyar
- Noel Edmondstone – Kingaroy
- Janita Langton – Cherbourg
- Heather Litzow – Kingaroy
- Craig Lucas – Kingaroy
- Ronald Mitchell – Gayndah
- Alison Murray – Kingaroy
- Kerryn O’Brien – Northgate
- Paige O’Connor – Wyalla
- Lex Petersen – Kingaroy
- Brenna Prendergast – Tingoora
- Zane Ratcliff – Gayndah
- Krishna Stanton – Gordon Park
