Premier announces GC2018 Baton Bearers

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has revealed the list of approximately 3,800 Australians who will carry the Queen’s Baton on its 100-day journey across the nation in the lead-up to the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.

The Premier said the list of names, selected through a community nomination program, is a great reflection of Australia.

“The lists of names have been compiled by judging panels in each state and territory, allowing local knowledge to play the greatest possible role in the selection process,” the Premier said.

“The baton bearers recognise the achievements and aspirations of Australians from all walks of life, from ambitious 10-year-olds to humble volunteers and well-known Australians from a variety of fields.

“Collectively, our baton bearers will take more than a million steps through every state and territory, sharing the excitement of GC2018 with regional and remote communities.” 

The Premier also revealed the uniform that baton bearers will get to wear with pride as they carry the Baton.

“It will be a treasured keep-sake of their special role in GC2018,” she said.

Minister for the Commonwealth Games Minister Kate Jones said the baton bearers were in for the experience of a lifetime - one that they will cherish for the rest of their lives.

“I’m proud that so many inspirational Queenslanders have taken up the baton to be part of our country’s biggest ever sporting event.

“The Games is our once in a lifetime opportunity to show the world what Queensland has to offer.”

At today’s launch on the Gold Coast, the Premier was joined by four baton bearers:

• 77 year old Marie Bennetts OAM, a long-time volunteer at Kurrrawa Surf Life Saving Club and Gold Coast Justice of the Peace;
• 17 year old Harrison Tippett, a recipient of the Macpherson Community Young Achievers Award and the State Government Citizenship Award;
• Preston Campbell, former Gold Coast Titan, 2001 Dally M winner and 2011 NAIDOC person of the year; and
• Brooke Hanson, youngest member of the 1994 Commonwealth Games swimming team in Canada and winner of one Olympic Gold, one Olympic Silver and two Commonwealth Silver Medals.

“There is a 90 year age range across the baton bearers, from 100 year old Bill Bruce from Nebo, to 10 year old Corbin Easton from Caloundra,” the Premier said.

“In Queensland, there will be more than 1800 baton bearers, as the Relay travels to 83 communities over 33 days.”

The Baton lands in Brisbane to start the final leg of its journey on Christmas Eve this year.

For one month during the school summer holidays, the Queen’s Baton will visit major events, iconic landmarks and children’s hospitals across the country.

The traditional relay will resume in Canberra on 25 January 2018 and will be carried by great Australians through QBR celebration communities around the country.

The Baton arrives back in Queensland on 3 March on Horn Island, for a month long journey around Queensland before the start of the Commonwealth Games on 4 April

The Baton’s activity during the school holidays and the street-level detail through Celebration Communities will be revealed on 17 November.

Since its launch from Buckingham Palace on 13 March 2017, the Baton has inspired athletes and fans across Africa, the Caribbean, the Americas and Europe. Currently it is in Malaysia and is set to visit the remaining 15 Commonwealth nations in Asia and Oceania before arriving in Australia on Christmas Eve.

It will be 60 years since a Baton first carried Her Majesty’s message to athletes of the Commonwealth at the Cardiff 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Wales.

Batonbearer names and the communities that they will carry the Baton in are available at gc2018.com/qbr

Media Contacts

Premier's Office:          Susan McGrady     0488 996 667

Minister Jones Office:   Jack Harbour        0419 620 447