For Queen, country and family
Volume 11, No. 38, March 8, 2006

AN RMC drill sergeant swapped his pace stick for a baton during the Commonwealth Games Queen’s baton relay through Canberra last month.

Sgt Jason Moriarty carried the baton into the Australian War Memorial (AWM) during its 180,000km, 71 nation journey to Melbourne.

Sgt Moriarty, who received an ADF commendation for conducting over 600 patrols in Baghdad as a Tp Sgt with 2 Cav Regt, said his wife put his name forward to carry the baton.

“The first I knew about it was when the envelope turned up in my letter box about six months ago, and said I had been given the opportunity to run with the baton,” he said.

“It is a rare opportunity, not something you would expect to get everyday.”

Sgt Moriarty said it was a privilege and an honour to run not just the baton, but to run the baton into the AWM.

“You couldn’t get a better place to run with it from my point of view,” he said.

“This is the spiritual place for all soldiers past and present. Where you can see what people have done for us.

“It was quite emotional to get the baton and start to run the 400m journey to the War Memorial, I am very happy, it is very pleasing.

“I am proud to represent the Army in whatever I can do, there is one thing serving and it is another thing to do the run into the War Memorial and to represent all the soldiers.”

Sgt Moriarty said his wife deserved to run the baton more than he did.

“I believe she should be running the baton, as she deserves the accolades more than I do, as she has to look after our four kids while I am away and while I am at work,” he said.

Sgt Moriarty said he and his family would be visiting the Commonwealth games.

“We are intending to go and watch the basketball, athletics and the walking.”