Torquay local to lead Legacy relay charge

A PROUD Torquay local will be leading the charge throughout the streets of Geelong during Legacy Centenary Torch Relay presented by Defence Health next Sunday.

Former Torquay RSL president Bob Tyler will join more than a dozen Greater Geelong locals in carrying the torch flame to mark 100 years of financial, emotional, social and developmental support from Legacy for families affected by war.

The September 17 event will kick off at Johnstone Park at 10am with participants traveling 12.4 kilometres through central Geelong and finish at Steampacket Gardens.

The torch relay initiative launched on ANZAC Day earlier this year in Pozieres, France and has travelled over 50,000 kilometres through 100 locations in the hands of approximately 1,500 torch bearers.

 

Mr Tyler said he was humbled to be completing a 500-metre portion of the global event.

“It’s wonderful what Legacy does and I’m proud to be supporting them.

“Physically I’ve been feeling great and have been in training so I can carry the special 1.2-kilogram torch on the day. Each walker will hold it for at least five minutes each.

“We’ve had a couple of meetings with the Geelong team members and are all feeling pretty excited.”

Mr Tyler joined the armed services in 1964 and retired as a Major in 2002 after 38 years in the military serving in Vietnam, New Zealand, Indonesia and Australia.

The former Torquay RSL president has a long association with Legacy Australia, who personally supported he and his mother after his father Thomas Knaggs passed away aged 62.

His father served in the sixth division in the Middle East, Cypress and Papua New Guinea.

Mr Tyler said all Geelong participants have been assigned a mystery leg of the relay; however, details will not emerge until the morning of the event.

“We think there’ll be about 15 of us doing it, but we won’t know what leg we are doing till the day.

“The position of your leg could be subject to a large number of changes, such as the weather, terrain, no shows and more.

“We will just wait and see on the day.”

Legacy Australia hope to raise over $10 million in their centenary year.

Locals participating in the Legacy Centenary Torch Relay in Geelong are advised to arrive no later than 8:30am to attend the event briefing.

The Legacy Centenary Torch Relay will conclude in six weeks’ time in Melbourne.