By Michael Sinclair
BRIMBANK got a special taste of Commonwealth Games fever as the Queen’s Baton passed through the municipality on its way to the MCG last week.
Local residents flocked to the streets of Sunshine, St Albans and Cairnlea to see the baton, which was on the final leg of its 366-day round the world trip.
It was then carried to the MCG ahead of the Game’s spectacular opening ceremony.
Youth worker Les Twentyman was among the first people to carry the baton when it finally reached Sunshine’s Hampshire Rd last Wednesday morning, before being passed onto West Sunshine’s Christina MacGregor.
Media-savvy Brimbank mayor Natalie Suleyman got into the action by posing for photographs along the baton’s route.
The baton was carried by Adrian Perillo and made its way through Albion North Primary School and through Furlong Rd in North Sunshine.
The baton was then carried through Main Rd in St Albans, with wheel-chair bound Warren Brearley of St Albans also taking part in the festivities.
It then passed through Alfrieda St and Main Rd West in St Albans, before leaving the municipality at Station St in Cairnlea.
Street stalls and outdoor trading accompanied the runners.
The baton travelled more than 20,000 kilometres around Australia in the 50 days leading to the opening ceremony.
It was carried by more than 3500 runners in Australia and 50,000 people worldwide.
A Games festival at Errington Reserve in St Albans last Sunday showcased the city’s multicultural lifestyle, along with sporting displays and roving entertainment.
A Harmony Day walk will be held tomorrow today at Keilor’s Brimbank Park. It will begin with a welcome by traditional Aboriginal elders.
