Our young make up 20% of our population. They also make up 100% of our future. Let us give them Peace as our centenary gift from Rotary.
The Peace Pole program had its beginnings in 1955. You can now find Peace Poles in close to 200 countries and more than 200,000 have been placed around the World. Our aim in 2021 was to distribute 100 Peace Poles for 100 years of Rotary sponsored by 100 Rotary Clubs, with each pole numbered 1 to 100.
This initiative was very successful and we now have more than 246 Peace Poles in school grounds around Australia.
Peace Poles are planted with the Universal Peace Message “May Peace Prevail on Earth”. They symbolise our common wish for a World at Peace. They stand as a silent vigil for peace reminding us to think and act in the spirit of Peace. The Peace message is written in four languages one panel on each side of the Peace Pole.
Schools and Rotary Clubs from around Australia are invited by the Rotary Club of Canberra Burley Griffin to continue to be involved in this Centenary project.
For more about this Peace Pole in Schools Initiative, contact: Michael Rabey (Coordinator Canberra Rotary Peace Bell for Rotary Club of Canberra Burley Griffin) - michaelprabey@gmail.com
Please Note:
In addition, a ceremony is held in Canberra on the United Nations Human Rights Day, 10 December each year. This ceremony is conducted in conjunction with The Canberra Zonta Breakfast Club.
The Rotarians and Guests gather around the Peace Bell on Lake Burley Griffin and it is struck once for every woman killed through domestic violence in Australia each year. The first name of the women and her age is called as the bell is struck. The ceremony is conducted early in the morning and as the bell is struck it is very moving especially when we pass 50 strikes!!
