They are among thousands of people nationwide selected to carry the Queen’s baton on the final stages of the journey to the Gold Coast.

The baton is slated to arrive in Brisbane on Christmas Eve, after having been carried 230,000 kilometres across, Africa, the Americas and Europe since the time-honoured event began at Buckingham Palace in London in March.

Tamworth’s batonbearers include Garry Kable, who served in the military for eight years and then, with his wife, was a foster parent for needy Tamworth children for almost 20 years, and Georgia Taggart, the 2016 winner of the Tamworth NAIDOC Young Achiever Award.

Armidale batonbearers include William Brunsdon and George Lowrey.

Brunsdon developed an early love for sport, competing in Ireland, Taiwan and Portugal via Down Syndrome Swimming and breaking more than 30 world records.

Lowrey, 95, has been the court curator at the Inverell Tennis Club for 78 years – a tenure interrupted by him serving during World War II.

Gunnedah’s batonbearers include Margaret Amos and Francis Crump.

Amos is described as “an inspiring cultural contributor and a staunch Gunnedah-loyal”, bringing music to the region by showcasing Gunnedah’s top music talent via events such as Sights and Sounds Gunnedah.

Crump has been involved in myriad charities, and every year during his annual leave he takes part in the Hike For The Homeless – a fundraiser for the homeless.

Coonabarabran’s batonbearers include Carlton Kopke and Julie Shinton.

Kopke, the sole police officer in Mendooran since 2013, established a youth group and has been engaged in other inspiring activities including organising a breathing machine for a terminally ill women.

Shinton has made a significant contribution to sport in her community including serving as a volunteer for 17 years at the North West Equestrian Expo. She is also the long-serving horse secretary of the Coonabarabran PAI and H Association.