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Great South Pacific Express Carries the Olympic Flame

Weaving its way north through Queensland on June 23rd, the Olympic Torch Relay spent four hours aboard Australia's own version of the Orient Express, the Great South Pacific Express.

Commencing its journey in Mackay, the flame travelled in style on the train, a luxurious reminder of yesteryear. Covering about 120 kilometres on board, the relay made 15 -minute whistlestop visits to the tiny railway communities of Kuttabul, Mt Ossa, Kolijo, Calen and Bloomsbury, cutting a swathe through magnificent sugarcane fields.

The final stop, at least for this alternate mode of transport, was Proserpine, where Carl Dorman carried the torch from the train and into local streets, before eight other Torchbearers took it to the outskirts of Les Stagg Oval for the lunchtime celebration.

Alan Law carried the torch into the arena and lit the community cauldron. He has been a schoolteacher for over 40 years and has been actively involved in sport and coaching at local, district and regional levels.

Proserpine is the administrative and service centre for the Whitsunday Shire, which has prospered from a sugar-industry boom. The local sugar mill offers guided tours during the cane-crushing period between June and November each year.

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