Today, the Redlands was connected with communities across Australia and the Commonwealth when the Queen’s Baton was welcomed on Point Lookout, North Stradbroke Island, by Quandamooka Traditional Owners, a host of special guests and many other locals and visitors.
Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said the Queen’s Baton event, which featured an afternoon of free entertainment and activities, celebrated much more than the upcoming XXI Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast on 4 April 2018.
“The Queen’s Baton is a source of inspiration and pride for the communities that it visits and also a visual reminder to our aspiring young sports people that dreams can be realised,” Cr Williams said.
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“Over the last 300 days since the Baton commenced its journey, it has touched the lives of more than a third of the world’s population and with today’s visit to the Redlands it shines a light on North Stradbroke Island in the heart of Quandamooka Country.”
“It is particularly exciting that the baton is celebrated on Straddie as it is home of Quandamooka artist Delvene Cockatoo-Collins, whose wonderful coast-inspired designs feature on the Commonwealth Games medals.
“We are also fortunate to have two other Redland stars at the event – surfing champ and Straddie local Bede Durbidge and our own Queensland Firebird Jemma Mi Mi,” she said.
The Queen’s Baton was carried by Aunty Rose Borey, a Quandamooka Traditional Owner and respected Elder to Headland Park for a traditional welcome with a smoking ceremony.
An afternoon of free entertainment and activities followed and was enjoyed by hundreds of the locals and visitors, including weaving workshops, traditional bush tucker tastings by Straddie Indigenous Delights, cultural demonstration by Quandamooka man Matthew Burns, traditional Smoking Ceremony and Dance workshop by Josh Walker, Didgeman and the Yulu-Burri-Ba dancers, Inflatable Surf Rider workshop with surfing champ and Straddie local Bede Durbidge and netball workshop with Redlands own Firebird Jemma MiMi.
Mayor Williams, said today’s visit was the first of two visits the Queen’s Baton will make to Redland City and urged everyone to get along to the next event.
“To have two Queen’s Baton events in our city is a coup for the Redlands so make sure to mark your calendars for its next appearance when the Queen’s Baton will return on Easter Saturday, 31 March 2018 and be carried as part of the traditional Queen’s Baton Relay,’’ Cr Williams said.
“Redlander and TV personality Lincoln Lewis and Olympic Gold medallist and beach volleyball star Natalie Cook OAM will MC the event, which will include a traditional ceremony, cultural demonstrations and workshops, activities, the Yulu-Burri-Ba dancers and food stalls,” she said.
The Baton will be carried from Cleveland Lighthouse Reserve, along North Street, Shore Street North and Shore Street West before arriving at Raby Bay Harbour Park, where there will be a free community celebration from 8.30am-12.30pm.
The Baton will then continue to Waterloo Street before it leaves the Redlands and continues to Brisbane.
Notable locals were among the 19 baton-bearers selected for the Cleveland leg of the Queen’s Baton Relay:
- Deborah Acason
- Jack de Boer
- Kieron Douglass
- Jade Edmistone
- Daniel Fox
- Tatiana Grigorieva
- Luke Harvey
- George Hill
- Jamie Hiscock
- Rod Hutton
- Ari Jelekainen
- Johaan Kaa
- Christine Kidd
- Jade Lucey
- Leon McNiece
- Claire Rickard
- Dawn Rubie
- Mark Urquhart
- Edwina Wordsworth
The Queen’s Baton will arrive on the Gold Coast for the XXI Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony on 4 April 2018, where His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales will remove Her Majesty’s message from the Baton and read it aloud to declare the Games officially open.
You can keep up to date at redland.qld.gov.au/GC2018
