SATURDAY BITE LIVE FOR GAMES HEROES
THERE is such a thing as a free lunch and evey one of the 10,000 volunteers who attended the Broadwater Parklands for a thank-you party on Saturday deserved it, and so much more.
CECILIA Robertson spent most of the Commonwealth Games driving dignitaries around – and said she would not have had it any other way.
The Broadbeach resident, who worked 17 shifts throughout the event, was among 10,000 volunteers – dubbed Games Shapers – who hit Broadwater Parklands for a thank you party on Saturday.
“I was fortunate enough over the 10 days to drive around incredible dignitaries,” Mrs Robertson said.
“The buzz in the stadium was mind-blowing – when everyone would chant Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi, it just made you so proud to be Australian.”
Mrs Robertson, 63, felt her time and efforts were much appreciated.
“I would’ve been happy to pay for my dinner – they gave the volunteers so many gifts,” she said.
“It was so lovely to see all the friends you had made over the 10 days and celebrate with them.
“I have never seen so many people come together and be so to proud to wear a uniform.”
“And it all ended with a perfect firework finish.”
Mrs Robertson felt a little melancholy the Games were done and dusted.
“I had not one bad experience or regret during my time,” she said. “My husband and I are off to Birmingham in 2022 and maybe even Tokyo (Olympics) 2020.”
More than 10,000 of the total 15,000 volunteers turned up at Saturday’s party to be thanked by Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove.
“These were the best Games ever, there is no doubt,” Sir Peter told the massive crowd.
He said organisers GOLDOC should “take a bow” and congratulated volunteers for being the “behind the scenes champions”.
“You, the volunteers, have packed some lifelong memories into the last couple of weeks – keep the memories alive and keep those friendships close,” Sir Peter said.
“On behalf of 24 million Australians, on behalf of over a billion Commonwealth citizens, Games Shapers, thank you – your blood is worth bottling.”
Officials kept their speeches short after the closing ceremony faced widespread criticism for barely focusing on athletes and including longwinded spiels.
GOLDOC chairman Peter Beattie stood in the crowd rather than taking the stage.
Premier Annastacia Pal- aszczuk told the volunteers they were amazing.
“The athletes performed above everyone’s expectations,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“But everywhere I went, everywhere the community went, everywhere the athletes went, they were met by each one of you with your great smiles and enthusiasm, that just reached and touched so many people.
“You were the heart and soul of our Commonwealth Games.”
Games Minister Kate Jones and Acting Mayor Donna Gates also thanked the group of volunteers, who worked 130,000 hours over the event.
Volunteers Lyn Brown, from Ormiston, and Sandra Young, from Logan Village, said volunteering at the Games was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Volunteers were supplied with their own meals after Ms Palaszczuk last week said she would stump up for food and drink at the party.
Costs for the afternoon, which included DJ entertainment, were being split between state government, GOLDOC and Gold Coast City Council. The night included live music and fireworks.