Adrenaline flowing

By Ed Merrison
FERNTREE Gully resident Rosie Baker cannot wait to relive the excitement of her relay run when fellow local residents are handed the Queen’s Baton.
Ms Baker carried the baton in Bright on Thursday, 23 February and said fellow runners had plenty to look forward to when the baton comes through Knox on Monday, 13 March.
“They’ll love it. It was just unbelievable,” she said.
Born in 1956, Ms Baker has been in Ferntree Gully her whole life and was accompanied on her relay leg by husband, Gordon, and their daughter and two sons.
Ms Baker said she would definitely be out to cheer on fellow runners, such as Crime Victim Support Association president, Noel McNamara.
Mr McNamara, who is carrying the baton from Melbourne Street to the Knox Civic Centre, said he was especially honoured to carrying the baton in the municipality.
“I’m sort of rapt because Knox is our home base and the people of Knox are the main supporters of our group and this is where (the Crime Victim Support Association) was born,” he said.
Former Knox Citizen of the Year, Kevin Knox, also relishes the prospect of carrying the baton in Marine Parade, Elwood.
Mr Knox, who has lived in the Ferntree Gully area for 65 years, said the adrenaline was already pumping.
“It’s just unbelievable. It’s a real privilege,” he said.
Mr Knox has prepared by walking with wife Aileen, and has even been to check the lie of the land where the baton arrives from the Spirit of Tasmania.
“It’s nice and flat, perfect for old gentlemen,” he said.
Also helping the baton on its way from the ferry to Knox is Upwey resident Catherine McDonald.
Ms McDonald, whose relay leg takes place in St Kilda, has the sporting edge over Mr McNamara and Mr Knox, but does not intend to rush the experience.
“I’ll be jogging it very slowly because I think I’ll be emotionally overwhelmed,” she said.
“It’s just a dream come true and the opportunity of a lifetime.”
Her grandfather won a gold medal for hockey with the Indian team in the Los Angeles Olympics in 1932, and Ms McDonald tasted athletic success of her own last year when she returned from the World Masters in Edmonton, Canada, with two gold and four silver medals in sprint and middle-distance running.
She said mixing with other athletes and nationalities in Edmonton gave a taste of what was in store at M2006.
“It was fantastic. It was just amazing to be part of such a huge community for such a short period of time.
“I was fortunate enough to spend that time in Canada and can just imagine how wonderful it will be in Melbourne,” she said.