PP Meryl has finally received a package of information on Peace Poles for Rotary Clubs from www.peacepolesoceania.com . This includes prices for complete poles or just the metail signs that can be attached to our own wooden poles as required. Our small sub-committee will consider some of the options and present them to members in coming weeks for an ultimate decision to be made by the Board. See "Read more..." for more pics and information.
Rotary 100 Down Under Peace Pole Project
A Peace Project celebrating 100 years since Rotary was established 1921 - 2021.
There is no limit on the number of schools or poles that can form part of the project in fact we have now passed over 250 Peace Poles donated as part of the project with poles now located in every state and territory of Australia.
Simple Four Step Process
Step 1. Select a School
100 Rotary Clubs, 100 Schools for 100 Years of Rotary in Australia.
The original idea was for 100 Rotary Clubs from around Australia, to be invited by the Rotary Club of Canberra Burley Griffin, to become involved in this joint Centenary Project by donating a peace pole to a primary school in their area. Currently over 250 peace poles have been reserved by Rotary Clubs around Australia. The number of Peace Poles that can be donated as part of the project is unlimited.
(As at 6/12/2022 we have registered 267 Peace Poles placed by Rotary Clubs in every state and territory)
(L-R Scouts visit to the Canberra Rotary Peace Bell. Greenvale State School Students with Rotarian Bob Murry at the unveiling of their Peace Pole, St John Vianney Waramanga ACT after planting of their Peace Pole)Step 2. Establish languages to feature on Peace Pole
Peace poles bear the Universal Peace Message “May Peace Prevail on Earth”. The pole and the message 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 language on each side panel of the 4 sided Peace Pole.
Each school is invited to participate by their local Rotary Club. The schools select the four languages to be featured on their Peace Pole, based on language usage in each school. Schools determine the location of the Peace Poles within their school grounds. Where an Indigenous Language is preferred, the translation must be provided at the time of ordering the pole. Many Indigenous languages do not have the equivalence of the words “May Peace Prevail on Earth”. If that is the case, an alternative appropriate statement can be utilised.
New Rotary 100 Logo and layout for Peace Pole includes the name of the donating Rotary Club.
The Governor General of Australia His Excellency the Honourable General David Hurley participating in the unveiling of Peace Pole 100 of 100 in Lennox Gardens Canberra. This pole sits adjacent to the Canberra Rotary Peace Bell.New Masahisa Goi Information panel included.
This information panel forms part of your Peace Pole describing the history of the Peace Pole idea.
Step 3. Order and Install Peace Pole
Cost of Peace Poles
Peace poles are now available in three ways:
Our recommended form for schools is in heavy duty PVC and come complete, with four languages, comment about Peace Poles and the special plaque naming The Centenary of Rotary including the name of the donating Rotary Club. The cost is $200.00 plus GST plus freight from Geelong.
For Public Parks and the like, we suggest the Aluminium Peace Pole and Legs again with the same six plaques cost $390.00 + GST and freight.
The cost to transport poles to NSW has been around $100.00
The third option is If you are using your own timber Peace Pole then the cost of the six plaques is $120.00 plus GST and postage from Geelong ($20-$30.00)
To order a peace pole or obtain more any price update please contact Michael Rabey 0411367700 or at admin@canberrarotarypeacebell.org.
Step 4. Follow up with an International Day pf Peace Ceremony
Over 250 International Day of Peace Ceremonies in 100’s of Schools
Once the peace pole is installed, the school is invited to participate in the United Nations International Day of Peace Ceremony on the third Tuesday in September each year. We suggest a short ceremony be conducted at the school’s peace pole. The Rotary Club may send members to deliver a keynote peace message from the Secretary General of the United Nations to the school. The words of Laozi could also be recited within the ceremony. These words form the theme of the Canberra Rotary Peace Bell. In addition, the Universal message “May Peace Prevail on Earth” should be spoken at the ceremony in each of the four languages displayed on the Peace Pole.
A suggested ceremony format can be provided separately.
Optional Step 5.
Encourage visit to Canberra Rotary Peace Bell
Involved Schools are invited to tour the Canberra Rotary Peace Bell
Your local school is invited by your Rotary club to visit the Canberra Rotary Peace Bell, should an organised school excursion to Canberra be organised for the school. Ideally the children involved would be primary school students from years 5 or 6, being the year groups commonly visiting Canberra as part of a national school excursion program. There are over 3,000 school visits to Canberra each year, from all over Australia. Schools in Canberra are also welcome to participate in a tour of Lennox Gardens and the Peace Bell.
The tour of Lennox Gardens includes a walk through the Beijing Gardens and discussions of the various monuments, placed in that section of the park. A visit is also made to the Canberra Nara Peace Park and includes information on the history of the park, a visit to the Hanoi Friendship Tree and concludes at the Canberra Rotary World Peace Bell. During the visit to the Canberra Rotary Peace Bell, each child has an opportunity to ring the bell. They also take part in a short ceremony, where the words of the ancient Chinese Philosopher Laozi are spoken as they strike the Peace Bell. The words of the Chinese Philosopher Laozi were used by the Rotary International President Herb Brown in 1995/96 as part of his peace theme.
If the school is traveling through Cowra N.S.W. we would also recommend that a stop be made at the Cowra Australian World Peace Bell. Unlike Canberra the striker is always in place so the Cowra Peace Bell can be rung at any time.
Words of Laozi:
(These words were also used by Herb Brown the International President of Rotary in 1995/1996 as part of his theme for the year. They are also often recited during ringings at the Canberra Rotary Peace Bell)
“If there is to be Peace in the World, there must be Peace Between Nations,
If there is to be Peace between nations there must be Peace Between Cities,
If there is to be Peace Between Cities, there must be Peace Between Neighbours,
If there is to be Peace Between Neighbours, there must be Peace in the home,
If there is to be in the home, there must be Peace in the heart”.
Best wishes
Michael Rabey 0411367700
Coordinator Canberra Rotary Peace Bell for the Rotary Club of Canberra Burley Griffin
www.canberrarotarypeacebell.org
Link to National Rotary 100 Down under projects including Peace Poles https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1147193038977614