FOR 43 years, Perse-phone “Sef” Lazarakis has been encouraging young athletes and helping out at events as a voluntary official and timekeeper.
Next month it will be the athletes’ turn to cheer Sef on from the sidelines as she takes part in the Queen’s Baton Relay.
At 92, Sef is the oldest WA baton bearer for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.
She is among more than 300 locals who will have the honour of bearing the baton as it travels the state on the 100-day countdown to the opening ceremony on April 4.
Sef will take part in the Perth leg of the journey, when the baton will be carried through East Perth and the heart of the city, ending with a community celebration at the Supreme Court Gardens.
The dedicated volunteer became involved in athletics in 1973 when her children started as middle-distance runners.
Since then there has scarcely been an athletics event conducted by the WA Athletics Commission without Sef officiating and timing track events.
“I continued even after my children grew up as I enjoy the atmosphere and camaraderie so much,” Sef told The Senior.
“My daughter Phyllis still holds the state record for the 1500 metres from 1980.
“I enjoy seeing the kids compete and watching them progress.
“Providing encouragement is my way of contributing to our youth.”
Sef said it was a lovely surprise to be selected as a baton bearer and she is looking forward to the experience.
“The young athletes are dead excited and came up and said it was well deserved, which was lovely,” she said.
Seniors will be well represented among the baton bearers, with more than 100 throughout the state aged over 55.
The relay began at Buckingham Palace, London, on March 17 last year, and the baton will arrive in WA on February 22.
Over six days it will travel through 19 communities, highlighting some of the state’s key destinations and diverse landscapes.
