MEMORIES were raw among the local champions who carried the Olympic torch for Proserpine 60 years ago.

Whitsunday Regional Council hosted the 60 year reunion of the 1956 Proserpine Shire Olympic torch runners last Monday.

The 1956 Olympic Games was the first hosted by Australia.

Proserpine was represented by 36 runners, covering one mile each.

Rex Hughes moved to Brisbane in 1974 and travelled to the reunion to reminisce about the great memories shared during the momentous occasion.

Mr Hughes was the last runner to carry the torch for the region and fondly remembers receiving his bronze medal.

"All the medals were in a tin locked box and the army was guarding it in the back of the truck so when you hand the torch over they hand you the medal from the back of the truck,” he said.

Mr Hughes joked about the immense challenge of running and holding the torch simultaneously, noting that one arm had to remain still to avoid inflicting a burn to the face.

Whitsunday Mayor Andrew Willcox delivered a presentation to the torch bearers of 1956, acknowledging the unique honour bestowed upon the group.

"It is an amazing privilege to be involved in this historic event, talking to some (torch runners) before the ceremony, the memories are clearly etched in (their) minds,” he said.

"I'm sure those memories will stay forever.”