The Queen's Baton recently passed through Cairns on its way to the XXI Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast in April this year.
One of the baton bearers was Allan Hughes, a former Dunedin resident.
Allan is the son of Ralph and Millie Hughes and was born and raised in Dunedin. Ralph was a life member of the Leith Harrier Club and passed away in 1990. Millie then joined Allan and Raymond in Cairns until her passing in 2003.
Carrying the baton held a special significance for him as his father was a baton bearer in the Queen’s Baton Relay while visiting Cairns in 1982.
Allan was ably supported by team Hughes with his wife, three sons, their partners and his grandson together with his brother Raymond and his son cheering from the sidelines.
He is hopeful that one day one of his grandsons will also carry the baton to a future Commonwealth Games event
During the Cairns leg of the relay the baton dived on the Great Barrier Reef and travelled by Skyrail to Kuranda, the village in the rain forest.
- Lyn Hughes
