Revealed: Who will carry Queen’s Baton in Ipswich

Batonbearers Jim Runham and Eithen Leard with Cr Cheryl Bromage.

THE lid has been lifted on who will carry the Queen’s Baton in Ipswich when it makes its inspirational journey across Australia in the lead up to the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Forty-five people have been chosen to carry the Baton in Ipswich when it visits the city on 29 March, 2018.

Collectively across the country, batonbearers will take more than a million steps to bring the Baton to its final destination, the Games’ Opening Ceremony on 4 April, 2018.

Councillor Cheryl Bromage, who is council’s representative on the local Queen’s Baton Relay planning group, said she had no doubt those selected to represent the city would inspire Ipswich.

“I am immensely proud of our batonbearers and the role they will play when the Queen’s Baton comes to town,” she said.

Meet two Ipswich batonbearers

EITHEN LEARD

Eithen Leard may only be 12 but he has a maturity and drive well beyond his years.

In a wheelchair since birth, Eithen has not let that hold him back and has excelled in sport and as a leader.

A rising star in the wheelchair basketball scene, Eithen was the youngest ever to compete at the under 23 Wheelchair Basketball National Championships, playing for Queensland and matching it with people much older than him.

“What I love most (about the sport) is mainly the people and being part of a team, knowing they will be there to back you up,” he said.

Eithen has also excelled at track and field and has his sights on one day representing Australia at the Paralympics.

He is school captain at Sacred Heart School, Booval and is widely respected among his peers for his relational and leadership skills.

Jim Runham SC, AFSM, OAM

When Jim Runham carries the Queen’s Baton he will be doing so “in honour of the thousands of volunteers across Ipswich”.

A man of exceptional courage, community spirit and service, Jim said he was thrilled to be chosen. He has given plenty back to the community but his greatest moment came when he and a group of navy cadet members helped rescue 56 people in the 2011 floods.

He said the gratefulness of the people he helped ferry to safety would remain with him forever. Jim was awarded a Royal Humane Society Bravery Medal and Group Citation for Bravery for his efforts.

He said despite his own accomplishments he would carry the Baton as a way of recognising the thousands who volunteer in Ipswich.

“I’m just one man, there is a proud history of volunteering in Ipswich and our community is the richer for it,” he said.

What is the Queen’s Baton Relay all about?

The Queen’s Baton has so far been passed between thousands of people across Africa, the Caribbean, the Americas and Europe, building excitement for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.

The GC2018 Relay is the longest and most accessible in history, travelling through the entire Commonwealth for 388 days and 230,000 kilometres.

The Baton engages with all Commonwealth nations and territories of Africa, the Caribbean, the Americas, Europe, Asian and Oceania for 288 days before it arrives in Australia for a further 100 days.

It arrives into Brisbane on Christmas Eve and about 3,800 batonbearers will carry it through every state and territory in Australia.

The relay started on Commonwealth Day, Monday, 13 March, 2017 at Buckingham Palace when Her Majesty placed Her message inside the Baton.

The distinctive design of the GC2018 Queen’s Baton captures the boundless energy of the Gold Coast. In form and inspiration, it is a symbol of our past, present and future.

The Queen’s Baton arrives on the Gold Coast for the Games’ Opening Ceremony on 4 April, 2018 where the Prince of Wales will remove Her Majesty’s message from the Baton and read it aloud to declare the Games open.

People selected to carry the Baton in Ipswich