Legacy flame welcomed in North Queensland

The Legacy Centenary Torch Relay has reached Queensland with the first two relay legs taking place in Cairns and Townsville.

First up was Cairns where the Legacy Torch travelled an 8.8km route passing through significant sites including HMAS Cairns, Cairns Wharf, The Cairns Art Gallery and Cairns Lagoon before concluding at the Cairns Cenotaph.

Our wonderful torch bearers included Cairns Councillor Amy Eden and Commander Alfonso Santos, Commanding Officer, HMAS Cairns. It was very special to have Regina Ryan as our final torch bearer who walked in honour of her husband David Ryan, who was a Legatee in Cairns for 30 years.

The Townsville relay travelled a 12.9km route throughout the city and passed through significant sites including ANZAC Memorial Park and The Strand before concluding at Jezzine Park with the lighting of the cauldron and Community Day.

Thank you to all of our torch bearers including Mayor of Townsville Cr Jenny Hill, Commander of the 3^rd Brigade in Townsville Brigadier David McCammon and Wing Commander Naomi Gill, Commanding Officer of the 27 Squadron. A special thank you to widow Melissa Bingley and her son Mitchell who were our last torch bearers. It was incredibly moving to have 16 year old Mitchell light the cauldron in honour of his late father Captain Mark Bingley who died in a Black Hawk helicopter crash in 2006 when Mitchell was only 3 months old.

The Torch is now making its way down to Mackay, followed by Rockhampton.