Junior soldier Corbin is nation's youngest in Queen's Baton Relay
Junior soldier Corbin is nation's youngest in Queen's Baton Relay
9 March 2018
Junior soldier Corbin Easton is "very, very, very excited" at being chosen as a baton bearer in the Queen's Baton Relay, to run on 27 March.
Corbin Easton, 11, a junior soldier in the Maroochydore Corps on the Sunshine Coast, is the youngest person in Australia chosen to be part of the Queen’s Baton Relay – a Games tradition that celebrates the Commonwealth’s diversity, inspires community pride and excites people about the world-class festival of sports and culture to come.
The baton, which left Buckingham Palace, London, on 13 March 2017, contains the Queen’s message calling Commonwealth athletes to come together in peaceful and friendly competition. It will be read to officially open the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games next month.
The XXI (21st) Commonwealth Games will run from 4-15 April.
After leaving London, the baton travelled for 288 days throughout 69 Commonwealth nations and territories in Africa, the Caribbean, the Americas, Europe, Asia and Oceania.
The baton arrived in Australia on 24 December 2017 and was carried into Brisbane International Airport by Games Ambassador and Olympic swimmer, Cameron McEvoy. The baton then travelled around the country for 100 days before arriving back in Queensland on 3 March.
Corbin plays cornet in the Maroochydore Corps Band.
Corbin will carry the baton on 27 March, in Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast, joining those who will have taken more than a million steps to bring the baton to its final destination on 1 April.
“I was very, very, very overwhelmed and excited that I would be carrying the Queen’s message,” said Corbin. “I will carry it for 200 metres. I have been practising, carrying a two-litre bottle of water, waving while I carry the bottle.
“I will have a good time. I would like to wear my junior soldiers uniform but I am not allowed. I have a special uniform.”
Corbin has also been “having good chats about the excitement and honour of this event” with Norm Rule, also from the Maroochydore Corps, who carried the Olympic Torch at the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000.
Throughout the state, the relay will travel to 83 communities over 33 days, with more than 1800 baton bearers. Across Australia, there were 18000 nominees for baton bearers, with 3800 chosen.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and for some reason I’ve been chosen,” said Corbin. “It’s exciting to be the youngest person in Australia to carry the baton, and exciting that I could even miss school to go to some events.”
Corbin's school newsletter sent its congratulations!
There is an almost 90-year gap between Corbin and the oldest baton bearer – Bill Bruce from Nebo, also in Queensland.
Corbin’s aunt, Belinda Youssef, nominated her nephew as a baton bearer. “He’d gone through so much at [a previous] school with bullying, and his response has always been to look after and care for people,” Belinda said. “He wants to make sure everyone has a friend and wants to help people, even with his own pocket money, who are going through hard times.”
Tammy Easton, Corbin’s mum, is proud of her son. “It’s amazing that they would look at a normal child, a little battler who is not ashamed to be himself,” she said.
“We are excited and proud and will be standing on the sideline cheering him on and we will all enjoy being involved in the day’s activity and the procession.
“It’s lovely to see Australia united in such an event and be proud to be in the Commonwealth.”
Corbin also plays cornet in the Maroochydore Corps Band and has completed all his badges for the Adventurers’ program. “He’s a great kid, he tries hard, commits himself to all he does, is always helpful and we are looking forward to supporting him as he runs his 200m in the relay,” said Majors Gary and Sue Cox, Maroochydore Corps Officers.
Comments
Congratulations Corbin on having this opportunity to carry the Commonwealth Games baton. You are such a caring, loving young man and it's so good you've been chosen to proudly carry the baton.