Greg Andrews passes along the flame.
Photo by
Riverine Herald
Do you remember when the Olympic flame came to town? It certainly does not feel like 25 years ago to many of us.
The year 2000 saw the dawn of a new millennium, the Y2K bug threat crushed, the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax and the Sydney Olympics among events of the year.
In January of 2000, after weeks of keeping secrets, Echuca-Moama and district residents chosen as community torch-bearers in the Sydney Olympic torch relay were finally able to share their joy at being selected.
It was universal joy from those selected to carry the flame through the region.
Gunbower residents wait for the Olympic torch relay to come past.
Photo by
Riverine Herald
After months of preparation and planning, the torch arrived in the region, travelling through Gunbower, Torrumbarry and Echuca on July 25; Echuca, Rochester, Kyabram and Lancaster on July 26; and Rushworth and Colbinabbin on July 27.
A special Olympic cauldron was even set up on the bow of the PS Pevensey to carry the flame along the Murray River.
Echuca’s Russell Parsons was chosen to light the celebration site cauldron at Victoria Park.
Echuca swimming and athletics coach Russell Parsons had the honour of lighting the cauldron at Victoria Park.
Photo by
Riverine Herald
Mr Parsons was accompanied by Lockington’s Laura Hopkins on the run into the park.
‘’I suppose you watch these things on television and read about it in the paper, and you get blasé about it,’’ he said at the time.
‘’It couldn’t be that good, but it is that good... it really is that good.
‘’The feeling that I had with Laura running through the people on the oval was just unbelievable.’’
The Olympic torch took a special trip on board the PS Pevensey.
Photo by
Riverine Herald
Another Echuca runner, Peter Mitchell, said the experience rated right up there with ‘’playing in a winning grand final and the birth of my children’’.
Thousands braved the winter chill to see the Olympic torch on its trip through the region, school children waving flags and proudly displayed their signs.
We have dived into the Riv archives and pulled out some photos from the event.
We hope you enjoy looking back at some of the photos captured from the relay.
Escort Kent Alexander and torch bearer Luke Raffin just couldn't contain their excitement as they did their leg of the relay between Torrumbarry and Gunbower.
Photo by
Riverine Herald
The McGillivray siblings from Gunbower Brodie, Azaria and Xavier, took their turn carrying the flame along the Murray Valley Highway.
Photo by
Riverine Herald
Michael Souter.
Photo by
Riverine Herald
Craig Arnel.
Photo by
Riverine Herald
Leigh Madgewick.
Photo by
Riverine Herald
Penny Reinehr.
Photo by
Riverine Herald
Olympic athlete from the 1976 games, Peter Grant, lit the special cauldron on board PS Pevensey to be taken to the Moama wharf on the first stage of its leg around Moama.
Photo by
Riverine Herald
Torch bearer Troy Heenan carried the torch back into Victoria from NSW, across the bridge.
Photo by
Riverine Herald
Nick Miori.
Photo by
Riverine Herald
Carmel Mackenzie.
Photo by
Riverine Herald
Stephanie Chamberlain escorted Bronwyn Button down Warren St into Echuca.
Photo by
Riverine Herald
Halcro Steele with the torch.
Photo by
Riverine Herald
Olympic torch bearer Kerrie Simmons.
Photo by
Riverine Herald
Olympic torch relay runners Sarah Beck, Linda Cullen, Damien Cocks and Nick Lee.
Photo by
Riverine Herald
Former champion cyclist George Goodwin had the honour of handing over the flag at Sir Hubert Opperman's statue in Rochester.
Photo by
Riverine Herald
Locals wait for the torch to enter Victoria Park.
Photo by
Riverine Herald
Among the locals taking part in the relay were Vivienne Norris, Malcolm Norwood, Luke Raffin and Peter Mitchell.
Photo by
Riverine Herald
Runners Tom Duffus, Emma Levy, Greg Clymo and Mary Roberts.
Photo by
Riverine Herald
Daryn George.
Photo by
Riverine Herald
Olympic torch relay visits Rochester.
Photo by
Riverine Herald
