Shortest was the best, says Fred

Right: Berwick marathon man Fred Brooks is still on a high after running with the Queen’s Baton last Thursday.Right: Berwick marathon man Fred Brooks is still on a high after running with the Queen’s Baton last Thursday.

BERWICK marathon man Fred Brooks ran the race of his life – all 500 metres of it – last Thursday when he took part in the Queen’s Baton Relay in Dandenong.
The 72-year-old world record-breaking endurance walker and runner said the run had been the ultimate experience and the highlight of his career.
Mr Brooks said his wife Lilian, many friends and his three youngest grandchildren had come to watch his leg of the relay.
He said he had also given more than 200 high fives to students from St Mary’s Primary School who had lined the streets to watch the procession.
On Tuesday Mr Brooks said he was still on a high from the run and could not compare the experience to anything else.
Mr Brooks has now ordered a replica baton and donated his official uniform to the Narre Warren Library to be placed on display.
But he said he would have to borrow the uniform back for one day so he could take it along to his granddaughter’s school for show and tell.
“It was just tremendous.
“My granddaughter dobbed me in but it will be good to go and talk to the kids and get them involved,” he said.