Sixty-two years ago a teenage Bill Richardson slipped out of the sick bay window of the Rockhampton Grammar School so he could run for a mile in cold, wet conditions, carrying the Olympic torch on its way to Melbourne.
Next week he’s doing much the same – returning to Blackall after five months of medical attention in Rockhampton to take part in the Commonwealth Games Queen’s Baton Relay.
He’s not sure which part of his home town he and his wheelie walker will be making their way along, but he hopes it’s somewhere close to the Thistle Street home he was born in.
Bill, now in his seventies, is one of hundreds of excited western Queenslanders getting ready for the proud moment when they’ll take part in the relay that started at Buckingham Palace nearly a year ago.
After being urgently medevaced to Rockhampton with a bleed on the brain late last year, Bill has been working to be fit enough to be the only person in Queensland who has participated in both historic sporting moments and still be living in their home town.
He was one of over 3000 young runners who took part in the 1956 Olympic torch relay that rolled out continuously day and night to cover the 4550 kilometre route from Cairns to Melbourne in just over 13 days.
All were selected for their athletic ability, having to cover a mile (1.6km) in six or seven minutes, and Bill remembers it being cold and wet.
In the boarding school sick bay with suspected pneumonia, he had his white uniform kit hidden under his mattress and in the early morning of the big day he got through a window, where a mate with a car was waiting to take him to the bus.
“I steered clear of matron after that,” he said. “After I’d done my run between Rockhampton and Gladstone we were all met by the mayor, Rex Pilbeam, and presented with a replica bronze medal.”
The then-schoolboy was feted when he returned to his home town for holidays, being taken up to the state school to show off his medal and give a talk, and then have the medal displayed in a shop window in the main street.
It was all a bit much for the shy young man, who said he went down to the river and hid for three days after that.
Next Friday, March 9, he will be one of 15 local heroes carrying the Queen’s message through the streets of Blackall.
Where and when to see the Baton in western Queensland
The Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Queen’s Baton will arrive in Queensland for its home leg, at Horn Island in the Torres Straits, this Saturday, March 3.
Before it reaches the GC2018 opening ceremony on the Gold Coast on April 4, it will travel to dozens of towns throughout the state, including a number in western Queensland.
March 7
- Birdsville – 10.09am start, 10.29am end
- Roma – 3.35pm start on Bungil Rd, 5.30pm end at Cultural Centre
March 8
- Mitchell – 11.06am start, 11.30am end
- Morven – 1.27pm start, 1.37pm end
- Charleville – 4.46pm start, 5.30pm end, Charleville Race Club complex
March 9
- Augathella – 9.13am start, 10am end
- Tambo – 12.37pm start, Tambo State School, 1.01pm end
- Blackall – 2.54pm start at showgrounds, 3.30pm end at Memorial Park
March 10
- Barcaldine – 9.57am start, Barcaldine District Historical Museum, 10.46 am end at Oak Street
- Ilfracombe – 12.18pm start, 12.37pm conclusion
- Longreach – 2.36pm start Thomson River waterhole, 5.30pm end at Stockman’s Hall of Fame, community celebration featuring Lee Kernaghan and Wolfe Brothers
March 11
- Winton – 11.27am start, Chirnside Street, 12.25pm end, Winton pool
- Hughenden – 5.07pm start, 5.30pm end, Hughenden showgrounds
Click here for the whole program, including who the runners are in each community.
Sally Gall
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
