By Alison Noonan
THE spirit of the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games was alive in Cranbourne when the Queen’s Baton Relay made its whirlwind dash through the town last week.
Hundreds of locals lined the streets to cheer the relay runners during the milestone event on Thursday.
The baton passed through Cranbourne on day 37 of the tour, enroute to the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Wednesday.
The relay began in Phillip Island before moving on to Kooweerup and Cardinia, through Cranbourne and Cranbourne North, Dandenong and later finishing in Frankston.
Casey mayor Kevin Bradford handed the baton to Meagan Sloane, the first runner of the Cranbourne leg, at 11am.
“This is a fantastic day for Casey and it is an honour to be part of this milestone event,” Cr Bradford said.
“I’m extremely proud of the enthusiasm of our community in supporting this event.
“There were hundreds of excited schoolchildren waving their Australian flags and loudly cheering on the local runners who were carrying the baton.”
Cranbourne North runner Lichelle Clarke said she was thrilled to be part of the Commonwealth Games relay team after carrying the torch during the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
“It was a dream come true to do it again,” she said.
The 20-year-old swimmer said she was nominated by her mum for her efforts in the last Paralympics.
“I didn’t even know my mum nominated me so I was stoked when I received the call that I would be involved,” Ms Clarke said.
“It was fantastic to be given the opportunity a second time because it’s something you think only comes around once in a lifetime.
“I walked the baton through Cranbourne North into Lyndhurst Secondary College with all the school kids cheering me on. It was a lot of fun.”
The seven local runners involved in the Queen’s Baton Relay journey through Cranbourne included Olive Stanley of Cranbourne, Jared Dunscombe of Narre Warren South, David Cunningham of Cranbourne, Jessica Abernethy of Berwick, Jocelyn Blows of Cranbourne East, Allyson Croxford of Berwick and Lichelle Clarke of Cranbourne North.
