As the Olympic Torch took off on Day 25 of its relay around Australia, the people of Carnarvon in Western Australia celebrated the quarter milestone reached this morning as the Torch travelled through their small historic centre.
The Torch has been carried on foot by Torchbearers for 1,473.8 kilometres around Australia, making today the one-quarter way mark of this, the longest Olympic Torch Relay run in Olympic history. This distance excludes kilometres travelled by the Torch whilst in convoy mode – by car, plane, boat or train.
After travelling from Broome yesterday, the Torch was carried through the streets of Carnarvon early this morning where the seaside town presented the Torch Relay crew with a selection of local produce to celebrate the Olympic Flame’s visit to the region. Another eight local Torchbearers carried the Torch this morning before the community bid the Torch relay crew farewell at Carnarvon airport with a small gift of fresh prawns crabs, local fruit and vegetables.
The next stop for the flame was Geraldton where riders on their horses lined a section of the street from the airport to celebrate the flame’s arrival. The Olympic Torch was carried along picturesque pine-tree lined streets and the beachside before arriving at the lunch time celebration at Geraldton Recreation Reserve.
Mr Gerald Whitby, an indigenous Australian, commonly known as Jacko, lit the Olympic cauldron at Geraldton. Jacko has been involved in athletics for more than 15 years and was awarded the National Indigenous Sports Award 97, the Geraldton Sports Identity 94, and was recognised as an Indigenous State Achiever in 1999.
This evening, Albany will host celebrations at Centennial Oval where the people of the Rainbow Coast will herald the dreams and aspirations of local sporting identities. Nicolette Mulcahy will light the cauldron at tonight’s evening celebration. Nicolette has undergone more than 15 operations for arterio venus malformation in her brain but has still managed to dedicate four years of her life to Camp Quality and the Make a Wish Foundation.
Source: SOCOG Olympics.com