Two Blue Mountains residents will carry the Commonwealth Games baton when it comes to Penrith in 2018.
Sue Roden of Springwood and Ben Felten of Blaxland will take part in the Penrith leg of the Queen’s Baton relay on February 4.
Ben Felten had a motorcycle accident at 16 and was diagnosed with a degenerative eye condition. He raced motorcycles until he was 23 and went totally blind at 37.
The Blaxland resident has represented Australia in rowing and blind cricket and hopes to break the Guinness World Record for the fastest motorcycle ever ridden blindfolded next March. The current record is 265.33km/hour.
“I’m really honoured to have been given the opportunity to carry the baton,” said Mr Felten, who went to Winmalee Public School and St Columba’s High School.
“To be a representative of people with a disability, carrying that baton, to me is just a great honour.”
Sue Roden has been a volunteer with the Australian Red Cross since 1998 and played an important role supporting people affected by the 2013 Blue Mountains bushfires.
Speaking to the Gazette in 2015, she recalled how people who sought help at the evacuation centre at Springwood Sports Club after the bushfires were understandably upset, stressed or confused about what to do next, "but our team members were well-trained and prepared for working in that scenario.
“Often it was just giving people the chance to debrief, to talk to someone and help them to find services they needed,” she said.
“As a volunteer it never fails to amaze me how someone feeling helpless in a seemingly hopeless predicament will feel better simply from having been heard.”
Approximately 3800 Australians who will carry the Queen’s Baton on its 100-day journey across the nation in the leadup to the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the list of names, selected through a community nomination program, is a great reflection of Australia.
“The lists of names have been compiled by judging panels in each state and territory, allowing local knowledge to play the greatest possible role in the selection process,” she said.
“The baton bearers recognise the achievements and aspirations of Australians from all walks of life, from ambitious 10-year-olds to humble volunteers and well-known Australians from a variety of fields.
“Collectively, our baton bearers will take more than a million steps through every state and territory, sharing the excitement of GC2018 with regional and remote communities.”