Gunnedah saw 27 local and regional legends be a part of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (GC2018) Queen’s Baton Relay (QBR) on January 31 as the baton made its way through the region.

Nine local schools in the area got the chance to get up close and personal to local heroes and a sporting great, Olympic champion and Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist, Sara Carrigan OAM.

"I’m so excited to be back in my hometown, where I was born 37 years ago. When I was younger, I thought how could little old me from the country compete against the best in the world and wear the green and gold. The advice I have for the young kids here today is to do what you enjoy, find your passion and do it because you love it,” she said.

As the final baton bearer for Gunnedah, Ron McLean, made his way to the Wolseley Park Rotunda, in a true show of Gunnedah’s community spirit, a guard of honour was formed to mark the very special occasion. A community celebration followed the relay, with rides, a barbecue, slushies, icy poles and more.

The Queen’s Baton Relay is counting down the days until the start of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games. It started on Commonwealth Day, Monday 13 March 2017, at Buckingham Palace when Her Majesty placed her message inside the Baton and will travel through the entire Commonwealth for 388 days and 230,000 kms. The Queen’s Baton will arrive on the Gold Coast for the XXI Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony on 4 April 2018, where HRN The Prince of Wales will remove Her Majesty’s message from the Baton and read it aloud to declare the Games open.