SPECIAL Project Reports 2022–2023

Canberra Rotary Peace bell

Events conducted at the Canberra Rotary Peace Bell this year included:

6 August 2022    Hiroshima and Nagasaki Remembered with ACT Scouts;

21 September 2022 International Day of Peace ceremony with UN Information Office in Canberra. Ambassador Yamagami and Alicia Paine Representing the Prime Minister spoke;

5 November 2022 Candle Festival Ringing;

10 December 2022 Human Rights Day with focus on Domestic Violence with Zonta Canberra Breakfast Club;

27 January 2023 Holocaust remembered with UN Office in Canberra and ACT Jewish Community;

4 February 2023 ACT Lantern Festival Ringing;

25 March 2023 Aussie Peace Walk with Hall Rotary;

15 April and 22 April 2023 ACT Heritage Festival three Guided Walks were conducted; and

3 May 2023 Special ringing for two visiting Japanese Parliamentarians in conjunction with DFAT.

 

School Tours through Lennox Gardens to the Canberra Rotary Peace Bell

31 August 2022 Jasper Road School VIC one hundred students visited;

14 September 2022 St Patrick’s School Walcha NSW twenty-six students visited; and

14 September 2022 Coonamble School NSW forty students.

20 October 2022 St Laurence’s School Primary Dubbo fifty-two students visited;

10 November 2022 Chairo Christian School Packenham VIC fifty-four students visited;

5 April 2022 Cartwright School NSW forty-seven students visited; and

3 May 2022 Majura Primary ACT forty students visited;

A further three tours are booked for 2023.

Many thanks to all members for their support during the year especially the Rotary guides Russell Dew, Bill Andrews, Warrick Howieson and Ross Brown.

 

Rotary 100 Peace Pole Project

We continue to receive requests for Peace Poles to be placed in schools and parks around Australia. As part of our project to recognise 100 years of Rotary service in Australia (2021). 

This year we have exceeded 300 registered Peace Poles as part of the project. 

Peace Pole 287, which has been placed on the main mast of the training ship Windward Bound by the Tasmanian Rotary District deserves special mention.

Peace Poles 290, 291, and 292 were placed at the Rotary International Convention as part of the Rotary Action Group for Peace display.

During the project, Rotary 100 Peace Poles have been placed in the Congo, Ohio, Costa Rica, Uganda, and Vanuatu.

Our Rotary 100 Peace Poles are now located in every state and territory with NSW having 94 poles, Queensland 51, Victoria 37, Western Australia 33, Tasmania 19, ACT 16, South Australia 12, and Northern Territory 5.

In addition, we assisted the Rotary Club of Adelaide to create their own Centenary Project to see 100 Peace Poles distributed across their state. It appears they have reached their target of 100 Peace poles.

We owe a debt of gratitude to Peter Clipinski who has constructed all of the Peace Poles and panels for both projects. Without Peter’s involvement, the project would not have been possible.

We will continue to issue Rotary Centenary Peace Poles as long as we receive requests from Rotary Clubs.

Best wishes to Warrick Howieson who steps in as Canberra Rotary Peace Bell Director for 2023–2024.

Michael Rabey

7 June 2023