Stan Hamilton prepares for his run in the Queen’s Baton Relay.
By Sarah Schwager
HUNDREDS of people have carried the Queen’s Baton on its trip around the world, and Pakenham’s Stan Hamilton was one of the last as he carried the Queen’s Baton Relay in Melbourne last night (Tuesday).
The Country Fire Authority volunteer and communityminded man was chosen to run for Qantas in the leadup to tonight’s Commonwealth Games opening ceremony.
Qantas selected both Stan and his wife Beryl to represent the company in the baton relay.
They were picked among the 12 awardees of the Herald Sun Pride of Australia medal, which was awarded in October.
Stan and Beryl together won the Pride of Australia award in the community work category after they were nominated by their daughter Linda.
But Beryl said she had decided not to take part.
“I decided one of us was enough,” she said.
Stan, 70, was looking forward to his part in history, where he would accept the baton from football legend Garry Lyon and run the 500metre leg of the relay at 5.40pm last night along the Southbank Promenade from the Yarra Footbridge to the Simon Rigg Sculptures on Yarra Promenade.
The couple recently moved to Pakenham after living in Upper Beaconsfield for most of their lives.
There has even been a reserve in the town named after the family – Hamilton Reserve on Berglund Road.
Stan and Beryl have three children – Doug, Linda and Nola, who passed away a year ago – and three grandchildren – Daniel, Eden and Benjamin.
They ran a beef cattle farm but decided the steep hills were getting too much for them.
Stan previously worked at the City of Berwick, starting as a truck driver before becoming a works officer.
Beryl said they couple had nearly died of fright when they were announced winners of the Pride of Australia award for their extensive work in the Upper Beaconsfield community.
“We were told we looked like stunned mullets,” Stan said.
Beryl said the ceremony had been very teary, especially after only just losing their daughter.
“It makes you feel very humble when you hear what the other people have been through,” she said.
Stan volunteered with the Upper Beaconsfield Fire Brigade for 50 years and was on the Upper Beaconsfield Primary School committee for 13 years.
He worked as a youth leader at the Upper Beaconsfield Youth Club, drove the community bus for the Midway Group at the Upper Beaconsfield Community Centre and collected toys and Easter eggs for Windermere.
“He brought the toys home and I wrapped them with bows,” Beryl said.
Stan also took on the role of Santa in the Upper Beaconsfield community for 20 years.
“I started off on a tractor, then on a motorbike,” he said. “We finished off with the Santamobile, which was decorated with Christmas decorations, a tree and had reindeer mounted on the front.”
On Christmas Eve at Carols by Candlelight Stan rode on the firetruck, handing out lollies to 500 children.
“If there was ever a fire or an accident I was on the back of the truck so I had to go with them,” he said.
The couple’s niece, Officer resident Wendy Boon, also ran with the baton.
Stan said both he and Wendy had applied to keep a baton and hoped to run at Pakenham’s Yakkerboo Festival, which this year has a Commonwealth Games theme, together. He said they would dedicate their run to all the volunteer firefighters in the area.
