Greg Kellett has made his mark in a range of sports in Tamworth whether it be volunteering his time or competing.
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Baseball, golf and cricket are three that immediately come to Kellett’s mind when speaking of his involvement.
The rewards for his hard work, amongst others, have come in two massive honours.
Greg Kellett doesn’t volunteer his time for the accolades but that hasn’t stopped them coming in.
Kellett was a torchbearer for the 2000 Summer Olympics torch relay before being a batonbearer for the Queen’s Baton Relay this year for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
However, being a bearer for both relays wasn’t set in stone until later than most. He was a late inclusion for both relays.
Kellett said it “fit in really well” that both honours came after he thought he’d missed out.
“These opportunities don’t come along all the time so you grab them [when they do],” Kellett said.
“The same thing happened when I carried the torch in 2000.
“I think they named 5000 [torchbearers] to start with, then they decided to add another 1000 and I was lucky enough to do that, too.”
Kellett has been involved in a range of sports over the years and is currently Tamworth Veterans Cricket president.
Knowing what it’s like to take part in one of these relays, Kellett is making sure as many of his friends and family are around to experience it with him.
“I described it [being a torchbearer] at the time, it was like being at the birth of my children. You just floated,” Kellett, who has family coming to Tamworth to watch him run, said.
“I remember I passed the torch to Roshani Priddis and Roshani ran two legs, about 900 metres or something like that.
“When she got on the bus, I said ‘how'd you go?’ and she said "I could have run to Gunnedah" that's what it was like.”
After the Queen’s Baton Relay goes through Coonabarabran – between 9.34am and 10.11am – and Gunnedah – between 12.22pm and 1.50pm – the baton will make its way to Tamworth.
The leg will start at 4.51pm when Wally Warner does the opening section before the baton passes through 16 pairs of hands in total with Troy Cassar-Daley running the last leg at 5.27pm.
The Tamworth leg of the relay starts at Riverside Park before heading down Carter Street, taking a left over the bridge and then a left again on Kable Avenue.
The relay then loops around onto Peel Street where it runs all the way down to Roderick Street before turning back onto Kable Avenue and finishing at the Tamworth Regional Playground.
