Queen’s Baton Relay to bring the excitement of the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games to Wagga Wagga

The City of Good Sports will kick off the NSW leg of the Queen’s Baton Relay in style on Sunday 28 January, with the baton to descend on Bolton Park in a PolAir helicopter.

Excitement is building in Wagga Wagga ahead of the huge event, with 15 runners to carry the Queen’s message inside the baton as it makes its way to the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

The community celebration begins at 8am with a free breakfast, followed by the official ceremony from 9am and the baton’s arrival via PolAir at 10am.

Mayor of the City of Wagga Wagga Councillor Greg Conkey OAM called on the community to get down to Bolton Park and line the streets in support of our local batonbearers.

“The Queen’s Baton Relay will bring the excitement of the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games to our doorstep,” he said.

“I encourage everyone to make the most of the opportunity. Come out and see the Queen’s baton, join in the festivities and cheer on the local legends who have the honour of taking part in the relay.”

The Wagga Wagga leg of the relay will leave Bolton Park and head down Tarcutta Street, up Morrow Street, along The Esplanade and then down Docker Street towards the Wagga Wagga Rural Referral Hospital before setting off for more towns in the Riverina.

Wagga Wagga product and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Brad Kahlefeldt will also be taking part in the local celebrations and will play his own role in the relay later in its journey to the Gold Coast.

“The Commonwealth Games was one of my career highlights and I’m very proud to carry the baton in March,” Mr Kahlefeldt said.

“Wagga has born and bred some of Australia’s best athletes and is renowned as one of Australians sporting capitals.”

The Queen’s Baton Relay will round out Wagga Wagga’s Australia Day celebrations. For more information, visit www.wagga.nsw.gov.au/australiaday.

Queen’s Baton Relay

Sunday 28 January at Bolton Park

Don't miss the spectacular arrival of the Queen's baton on its way to the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games from Bolton Park and through the streets of Wagga Wagga.

• Free Sunrise Rotary breakfast from 8am
• Official ceremony from 9am
• Free kids sporting activities including PCYC, Little Kickers, Wagga Swim Club and Wagga Wagga Crows Junior Rugby Union Club.
• Baton will arrive via helicopter from 10am

More information: www.wagga.nsw.gov.au/australiaday

Road closures (full or partial)

• Morgan Street (between Berry and Tarcutta streets) closed from 7am to 10.30am.

Following official event celebrations at Bolton Park, the baton will travel along the following streets with the following changed conditions in place:

• Tarcutta Street (open to southbound traffic, speed restriction in place). Closed to northbound from shortly before 10am until about 10.30am.
• Morrow Street closed from Ivan Jack Drive to Tarcutta Street from 9am. Baylis Street traffic permitted until the baton and convoy pass by the area.
• Ivan Jack Drive closed via stop/go only to allow baton and convoy to pass by
• The Esplanade closed from 9am.
• Forsyth Street (between The Esplanade and Murray Street and intersection with Docker Street) from 9.15am.
• Docker Street (open to northbound traffic, speed restrictions in place). Closed to southbound.

Streets will progressively be opened as normal after the baton relay has passed by.

About Brad Kahlefeldt

• Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist
• 3x ITU World Championship Medallist
• Multiple 70.3 Winner
• 3rd Ironman Asia Pacific Championships - 8:09
• Dual Olympian

For more information, please see the Wagga Wagga Sporting Hall of Fame website.

Queen’s Baton Relay batonbearers – Wagga Wagga

• Andrea Arragon
• Ian Begg
• Daniel Beresford
• Aditi Bhalla
• Narelle Buckingham
• Sarah Carter
• William Jacob
• Terry Langtry
• Rory McKenzie
• Gloria Pascoe
• Heather Pentland
• Stephen Pike
• Carly Salmon
• Wilma Skipper
• Steven Wilson