Carrying a torch for a nostalgic Olympic torch relay memory

Twenty years ago, on July 2, the Sydney Olympic Torch flame came to Geraldton in the lead-up to the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
It was a Sunday, and what a day it was. Full of good spirit indeed.
People were nominated to carry the torch, and then selected through a process.
I was so lucky to be one of those people. Torch bearers were each given a section to run.
My bit of the run was from outside the car wash on Lester venue, where I “took the flame” from Merrilyn Green, then I ran down to Francis Street where about half-way down I passed the flame to Gerald Whitby.

He then ran the torch into the recreation ground where a symbolic replica of the Olympic flame was lit.
It was an exciting time, and The Rec was buzzing. Afterwards the “flame” was taken to the airport, and flown to the next place.
We each had a buddy runner and my “buddy” was a young Harry Taylor.
Interestingly, the day before, July 1, was the first day of the introduction of GST. My Olympic torch was the first thing I ever had to pay GST on. We had to buy them before the day, from memory $300, and even though bought beforehand, because we didn’t actually receive them until July 2, we were whacked with the extra $30!
Our uniform was “given” to us to wear for the run.

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