The Queen’s Baton Relay will make its way through Parkes on January 29 this year on its way to the Gold Coast for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
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Among the 21 people selected from Parkes to carry the Baton will be 12-year-old student athlete Victoria Simpson, and local Parkes man Darrin Gibson.
Victoria who is the daughter of Garth and Deanne Simpson, has only recently returned from the 2017 Pacific School Games which were held in Adelaide in December, where she placed fourth in shot-put.
She was originally nominated for the honour of being a baton bearer by Principal of Holy Family Primary School Denise Gersbach, with Victoria being described as an inspiration to both her teachers and fellow students of Holy Family.
After receiving the news that she had been selected to represent Parkes as an official Baton Bearer, she said she was “extremely proud and excited to try something new”, while her mother Deanne said “she takes it all in her stride”.
Darrin described his feelings on being selected as “initial disbelief, but a great privilege, and massive honour”, describing being a cog in the overall goal of reaching the Gold Coast as “pretty cool” after being nominated by local Parkes Councillors.
After years of being in the Military, Darrin likened the team work environment of being a Baton Bearer with being a part of one big family, all with the same goal of getting the Baton to the Gold Coast games.
Having been a recipient of Osseointegration 12 months ago, when quizzed on the relay itself Darrin said with a grin “that he was hoping for a flat-spot” for his 200 metre walk and how happy and proud he is to be selected to be part of the relay.
Victoria and Darrin are both extremely proud and humbled to have been selected, and are very much looking forward to representing Parkes as Baton Bearers.
The Queen’s Baton Relay will commence on top of Memorial Hill at 4.30 pm, on Monday, January 29, with it finishing at the Parkes Aquatic Centre at 5.30 pm.
Everyone is encouraged to come and support our local Baton Bearers with the Aquatic Centre hosting a pool party afterwards with free entry and a Barbeque.