The Queen’s Baton will be the starring attraction at the 2018 Redcliffe Festival of Sails on Good Friday, the 30th of March, the Moreton Bay Regional Council announced on the 17th of November. The baton will be carried from the front of Council’s administrative building on Irene Street and would proceed along Redcliffe parade, through the markets, up in Marine Parade and onto the main stage on Suttons Beach.
The journey of the Queen’s Baton began at Buckingham Palace during Commonwealth Day held on the 13th of March 2017. During the ceremony, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II placed her message for the Commonwealth and its athletes into the Baton and entrusted the first chosen Batonbearer to travel with it. The baton has since started its journey through the entire Commonwealth, 388 days and 230,000 kilometres, until it arrives in Australia on the 25th of December 2017 and subsequently in Redcliffe.
Credit: Wizard327 YouTube
At the 2018 Redcliffe Festival of Sails, paralympic world record holder and Moreton Bay’s Young Citizen of the Year Lakeisha Patterson OAM will carry the baton on the stage. She will be joined by other baton-bearers around the region, namely Alicia Coutts from Macgregor, Colleen McCarthy from Brighton, Lakeisha Patterson from Caboolture, Eric Wallwork from Beachmere, Michelle Wardle also from Redcliffe, Isla White from Bracken Ridge, and Kayleigh Williams from North Lakes.
All Redcliffe locals are being encouraged to get involved in the celebrations, Moreton Bay Regional Mayor Allan Sutherland said during the announcement.
“The Baton’s arrival is the perfect way to kick-start the region’s iconic Easter celebrations – which will include the Redcliffe Festival of Sails and the Good Friday Redcliffe Jetty Markets along Redcliffe Parade,” he said.
“We want as many locals as possible to be part of the Baton’s journey around the world and share in the excitement of GC2018. So get on down to the Redcliffe Parade and Suttons Beach and be a part of history!”
The baton will then travel to the Gold Coast for the XX1 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony on the 4th of April 2018. His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales will then read the Queen’s message from the baton to officially start the games.
“The baton relay represents a calling together of people from every part of the Commonwealth.” – Her Majesty The Queen