The chosen baton bearers who will represent Wodonga and Wangaratta in the lead up to the 2018 Commonwealth Games say they are honoured and excited to take part in the relay.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Alannah McKeown already has an impressive list of achievements to her name, having competed at the Special Olympics, Asia Pacific Games and World Games.
The 20-year-old, who has Down Syndrome, will trade the bathers for the walking shoes when the Queen’s Baton arrives in Wodonga on February 15.
“I’m so proud of myself and I love this opportunity … It will be great to see all of my friends there,” she said.
“I went to the MCG with Mum and Dad and saw the real baton and thought ‘oh my goodness, it’s really big’.”
Mayor Anna Speedie was full of praise for Ms McKeown, who was also Wodonga’s 2017 young citizens of the year.
“Alannah is such a special person, not only in our community, but in her own right - she’s done some amazing things - so I think Wodonga should stand proud to have Alannah as their representative for this baton relay,” she said. “If you see her out there training, walking really fast, everyone give her a toot and a wave and some encouragement.”
Other Wodonga baton bearers include basketball legend Lauren Jackson, Tawonga Primary School principal Kim Franzke and Commonwealth Games gold medalist shooter Bruce Quick.
Cr Speedie said she was sure a big crowd would turn out for the Wodonga leg.
“If they get to see their sporting champions, they might then aspire to a Commonwealth Games or a national level sporting competition. I think that’s terrific and to not have to drive to Melbourne or Sydney to do so, that is great,” she said.
Wangaratta’s Sergeant Colleen Sheridan will also run a leg in the baton relay when it passes through the city on February 14.
“I feel pretty privileged, I was really grateful for the nomination and this is a nice way to be recognised,” she said. “It’s great for the town too, having the relay come through here.”
Sergeant Sheridan said she is a “die-hard sports fan” who is no stranger to competitions herself.
She has represented Victoria Police in swimming at the state, national and international level in emergency service games both in Australia and around the world.
But she was nominated as a relay runner for her role as the Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation’s North East branch president.
Each of the 40 participants will run or walk 200 metres along the route, to be announced in the coming months.