Queen's Baton Relay coming to Newcastle

Wheelchair athlete Kurt Fearnley and Paralympic gold medallist Maddison Elliott are among the shining lights from the Newcastle community who will take part in tomorrow's local leg of the Commonwealth Games Queen's Baton Relay.
 
The relay arrives in Newcastle early tomorrow morning, with 2017 Newcastle Citizen of the Year Sister Di Santleben carrying it aloft from a harbour pilot boat at Lee Wharf, Honeysuckle.

A brief community celebration will then take place, including a smoking ceremony by the Indymarra Cultural Group, a welcome to country and a guard of honour formed by athletes from the Hunter Academy of Sports.
 
Lord Mayor of Newcastle Nuatali Nelmes will welcome the relay and briefly interview Sister Santleben and Mr Fearnley - the first baton-bearer heading east along the newly improved Newcastle Foreshore.
 
The relay route will showcase the city's spectacular revitalised coastline, turning south at Nobbys Beach, through a guard of honour formed by junior and senior members of Nobbys Surf Life Saving Club before following the coast to the viewing platform overlooking Bar Beach.
 
There, another guard of honour formed by junior and senior members of Cooks Hill Surf Life Saving Club, will welcome the final baton-bearer - Port Stephens Olympic and Commonwealth Games archery competitor Matt Gray.
 
"The relay will hit home the fact that we're now just two months out from the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games," the Lord Mayor said.
 
"The list of baton-bearers reflects the diversity of talent, dedication and achievement in our community."
 
"These people were chosen for achieving something extraordinary, making a significant contribution to their community or excelling athletically or personally."
 
Celebrations begin at 7am at Lee Wharf, prior to the baton's arrival off the pilot boat about 7.20am. The relay is expected to arrive at Bar Beach shortly before 9am.
 
People attending the start of the local leg of the relay should park at the Lee Wharf car park in Honeysuckle.
 
The Lord Mayor said the relay would be escorted along its route by police, with short-term road closures in place.
 
"These will take effect only as the convoy passes through, so there should only be very brief disruptions to normal traffic," she said.
 
See below for relay map: