Meet Tom and Dawn

Miss Eagle would like to formally introduce you to Tom and Dawn.

Tom and Dawn are volunteers at the Commonwealth Games Village

and - as you can see - are busy collecting badges.

Commonwealth Games - Onya bike

Two sisters had their glory tonight on the bikes.

Anna Meares, and her sister Kerry - from Queensland - won gold and bronze respectively.

Congratulations girls!

Your victories are all the better for the charm of your sibling rivalry.

Commonwealth Games - Aussie Golden Girls

Three flags: they flew tonight

flew for the Golden Girls

Brooke Hanson (left), Stephanie Rice (centre), Lara Carroll (right)

Stephanie Rice and the joy of winning

The Women's 200m Individual Medley Final has got the Land of Oz off to an exciting start in the swimming events. 1-2-3, Gold, Silver, Bronze to Australia. But it is not the quantity that was so exciting - it was how Stephanie Rice won. Stephanie, of the three girls - the other two were Brooke Hanson and Lara Carroll - was the newby, the inexperienced one. But, Stephanie, Miss Eagle thinks you are a determined minx. You went for it. You were determined to make the most of your opportunity. You took the lead early with everyone thinking: just wait for it. That Brooke will break through. But that didn't happen. You faded and came again. You had what it took - to break in the beginning and break through when it was really needed. And in a Games record of 2.12.90! What an example to us all! What a metaphor - work hard, train hard, be determined and make the most of your opportunities.

Commonwealth Games - Grant Hackett and Heroes

Miss Eagle is disappointed. You see she is a Grant Hackett fan from way back. She thinks he's beyootiful! Then when Thorpie wasn't in contention for the Commonwealth Games (but get better quick Thorpie) nasty thoughts came into Miss Eagle's head. Now is Grant's chance - the beautiful boy can come into his own without all the Thorpe limelight. But no. It's not going to happen. Grant's gone out in sympathy, it seems. But I was delighted to see this ad yesterday in the Degraves Street tunnel.

Commonwealth Games - Aussie Girl Power kicks off

Australia's first medal - a bronze - goes to a girl and a teensy weensy one at that.

Erika Yamasaki took line honours in the first day of the women's 48-kilogram weightlifting competition.

Proud of you, Erika! 'Onya girl. Go get 'em.

Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony

The excitement was evident this afternoon as people gathered to catch the train and head for the city. The Commonwealth Games were about to get underway in Melbourne, arguably Australia's most sports mad city.

The people above are set to go with their flags and the green and gold socks.

An old "W" type tram with wings flew into the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground) to begin the opening ceremony.

The MCG was the site of the 1956 Olympic Games - the first held in Australia.

The main events were about a young boy and a duck - and the boy's fantasy.

This was based on Michael Leunig's ubiquitous duck and Michael recited his duck poem

A Little Duck

by Michael Leunig

With a bit of luck

A duck

Will come into your life.

When you are at the peak

Of your great powers,

And your achievement towers

Like a smoking chimney stack,

There'll be a quack

And right there at your feet

A little duck will stand;

She will take you by the hand

And lead you

Like a child with no defence;

She will lead you

Into wisdom, joy and innocence.

The little duck.

I wish you luck.

The Queen alights from her Rolls Royce for the opening.

Cathy Freeman brought the Queen's Baton into the MCG and passed it to Ron Clarke.

Ron passed the Baton to Marjorie Jackson, the Governor of South Australia

I was getting excited then. I knew there was one more runner to come.

We had seen Herb Elliot earlier in the evening on the Yarra River when he took the Baton from Ron Barassi.

With Freeman, Clarke, and Jackson on the track it was clear who the fourth person had to be.

My eyes were brimming with tears. Such history!

And yes it was - the wonderful John Landy who has just retired as Governor of Victoria.

Delta Goodrem sang the theme song.

The Queen made the speech and declared the Commonwealth Games open.

HAVE FUN EVERYONE AND DO YOUR PERSONAL BEST