Baton - Commonwealth Games
Production date
1982
Country
Australia
State/Province
Queensland
See full details
Object detail
Description
Laminated and turned wattle (acacia) wood baton embellished with Australian silver, 36 sapphire and 36 amethysts, with the internal cavity made from silver plated brass, with a double locking mechanism and key.
Classification
CIVIC MEMENTOES Souvenirs Commonwealth Games
Maker
Production date
1982
Production place
Measurements
L615 x Dia.60 mm
Media/Materials description
Wattle timber, silver, sapphire, amethysts, silver plated brass.
Signature/Marks
XII COMMONWEALTH GAMES
History and use
This is the relay baton that carried the message from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for the Opening Ceremony of the XII Commonwealth Games held in Brisbane from 30 September to 9 October 1982. It was made from a composite of wattle timber sourced from all parts of Australia, wattle being the country’s national floral emblem.
The Commonwealth Games sporting competition is staged every 4 years for participants from the Commonwealth of Nations (previously known as the British Commonwealth), and is traditionally opened by the Head of the Commonwealth, currently Queen Elizabeth II. The concept was originally proposed in 1891 although it was not until 1930 that the first official event was held in Hamilton, Canada under the name British Empire Games. The event was renamed as the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in 1954, the British Commonwealth Games in 1970, and gained its current title in 1978.
Since 1958, the message for the Opening Ceremony of the Commonwealth Games has been delivered in a specially designed relay baton with a hollow centre. This baton containing the message from Queen Elizabeth II left Buckingham Palace, London on its journey to Australia. The relay for the 1982 XII Commonwealth Games covered 15000 kilometres and arrived at Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Sports Stadium at 4.30pm on 30 September 1982. It was opened and the message read out at the Opening Ceremony of the XII Commonwealth Games by the Queen’s representative, HRH the Duke of Edinburgh.
Uploaded to the Web 27 May 2011.
The Commonwealth Games sporting competition is staged every 4 years for participants from the Commonwealth of Nations (previously known as the British Commonwealth), and is traditionally opened by the Head of the Commonwealth, currently Queen Elizabeth II. The concept was originally proposed in 1891 although it was not until 1930 that the first official event was held in Hamilton, Canada under the name British Empire Games. The event was renamed as the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in 1954, the British Commonwealth Games in 1970, and gained its current title in 1978.
Since 1958, the message for the Opening Ceremony of the Commonwealth Games has been delivered in a specially designed relay baton with a hollow centre. This baton containing the message from Queen Elizabeth II left Buckingham Palace, London on its journey to Australia. The relay for the 1982 XII Commonwealth Games covered 15000 kilometres and arrived at Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Sports Stadium at 4.30pm on 30 September 1982. It was opened and the message read out at the Opening Ceremony of the XII Commonwealth Games by the Queen’s representative, HRH the Duke of Edinburgh.
Uploaded to the Web 27 May 2011.
Registration number
H16191.1
Share
Country
State/Province
Category
