THE Cloncurry mayor wishes the Commonwealth Games were held in his town this year to coincide with the town’s celebrations of 150 years since foundations.
But the next best thing was for Cloncurry to host the Queen’s Baton Relay on March 6 next year.
“It’s a shame we couldn’t have hosted the Commonwealth Games in 2017 to tie in with C150, but I’m sure the Gold Coast is going to do an awesome job next year,” Cr Campbell said in a video on Sunday.
“And Cloncurry will be there doing our part when the Queen’s Baton Relay comes to town.”
He said that Cloncurry was recognised for its importance in mining, transport and beef when it was chosen among the towns to host the relay.
“It’s a great honour for us and our community in the area and we should be really excited and honoured by it,” Cr Campbell said.
“The baton kicks off next week from Buckingham Palace on its worldwide tour and it’s doing almost a quarter of a million kilometres on its way to the Gold Coast.
“We’ve got a big 12 months ahead of us this year with C150 and we’re really looking forward to the Queen’s baton making it to Cloncurry.”
He revealed that Ramsay Street would be one of the streets where the baton would travel in.
Cloncurry resident Joe Bakhash recalled when he was a runner carrying the Olympic torch in Mount Isa in 2000. His hometown had not been chosen on that occasion.
“I trained three months to run a kilometre and a half,” Mr Bakhash said.
“It was unreal, I can’t explain it.
“I’d bloody do it again if I had the chance, it was absolutely great.”
Cloncurry and Mount Isa hold the relay on March 6, 2018. Birdsville will host the Queen’s Baton on the same day as Roma on March 7.
Winton and Hughenden host the relay on March 11, and the baton reaches the Gold Coast on April 1.
