The celebrations will be held on Monday, February 5  from 2pm to 8pm and the event is going to be brilliant.

The event is also an exciting opportunity to showcase the area and community to other Commonwealth nations.

Shoalhaven City Council, in partnership with many local sponsors, has organised an exciting afternoon of fun to welcome the Queen's Baton Relay.

The Shoalhaven will be one of the only communities that will have the baton in the air, over water and on land.

Here are the plans for the day

Nowra Aquatic Park from 2pm to which will be hosting a pool party with free entry and waterslides. A great afternoon out for young and old and the perfect place to see the Queen’s Baton entry into the Shoalhaven.

The baton will make a spectacular arrival on the banks of the Shoalhaven River by Royal Australian Navy helicopter landing on Greys Beach at 4.30pm. From there it will take a trip across the river on a Navy RHIB to the Nowra Aquatic Park.

The baton , together with the 18 baton bearers, will walk up Scenic Drive past the hospital, through Nowra Showgrounds, down Junction Street, and make a round trip through the city centre and onto the Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre at 5:30pm, where a community fun afternoon will take place.

The lawns of the Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre will be transformed into an open–air carnival of music, food and entertainment from 4pm to 8pm.

A live large screen will be at the Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre so you can follow the journey of the Baton through the streets of Nowra while relaxing on a picnic blanket enjoying some cool community vibes, food stalls, entertainment and fun for the kids including face painting and a jumping castle.

Local baton holders

Congratulations to the following baton-bearers who will be representing the Shoalhaven at the Queen's Baton Relay.

They are: William Barry, Susan Courtney, Rodney Crouch, Makynli Dale, Julie Dart, Jan Gilmour, Ken Hutt, Stuart Leyland, Melissa McManus, Andrew McVey, Rosemary Morgan, Craig Norris, Rajarshi Ray, Casey Sablowski (Eastham), Leslie Sykes, Michael Vassallo, Raymond Vincent and Kristine Vincent.

Be true blue

Organisers are asking people to join in the fun, wear the colour blue, line the streets, cheer the baton bearers as they pass and celebrate at the Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre with dancing, circus performances, entertainment, food and fun. 

Get involved

Shoalhaven City Council is inviting all local Nowra businesses and retailers to enter the Queen’s Baton Relay Window Dressing Competition for a chance to win some great prizes and to get in the spirit of this historic event.

Decorate your business for Monday February 5 and be part of the celebrations

Dress your shop window in the theme “Share the Dream” or the Commonwealth Games.

As the relay route passes through Nowra CBD, Council is looking to add a vibrant element to the shopping precinct in the lead up to the arrival of the Queen’s Baton and encourage customers to enjoy the spirit of the games whilst shopping locally.

Help dress the town to celebrate the Queen’s Baton and show your support for the Baton Bearers.

Enter by emailing monica.willis@shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au or call Council for more details 4429 5214

Key dates: window displays should be completed by January 28, windows will be judged on Friday February 2 and winners will be announced on Monday February 5.

Mayor Amanda Findley and a representative from Shoalhaven City Council will judge the windows.

Go to getinvolved.shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au/queens-baton-relay-nowra for more information.