Victoria provided us with some stunning, unforgettable Peace Run moments and now we get to bask in the uniqueness and beauty of South Australia.
Before we start the day though, let's browse some of the recent media articles covering our journey through Australia, starting with yesterday's events in Port Fairy:
* Moyne's Shire's Facebook page on the meeting in Port Fairy;
* Two posts from Archie Roach on his receiving the Peace Run Torch-Bearer Award yesterday;
* this one from News of the Area on our visit a few weeks ago in Bulahdelah, NSW;
* a write-up in the Yarrawonga Sacred Heart Primary School's newsletter (see second last page);
* listen to Radio 2BOB's Cam Jennings who interviewed the team at the side of the road back in the Manning Valley, NSW;
* The Land has this excellent story – including video – on the Peace Run's visit to Port Macquarie, NSW;
* the planting of a Peace Tree in Grafton, NSW is covered in this article in High Beam Research;
* The Coffs Harbour Advocate covered the same event, as well as the visit to Coffs Harbour;
* The Northern Star was also present at the meeting in Coffs Harbour;
* The Macleay Argus is focused on the Team's visit to West Kempsey Public School;
* The Lantern – the magazine of Trinity Catholic College, Lismore, covered the Peace Run;
* St Joseph's Primary School in Alstonville also covered the Peace Run's visit in their magazine;
* Ballina Shire Council posted this article on their Facebook page.
Our first S.A. school was 9 am this morning at McDonald Park Primary in Mt Gambier.
Thank you to Ben and Reece for leading us with the Torch to the assembly.
Six hundred children began the ceremony with a very jazzy rendition of Advance Australia Fair.
Showing the Peace Run DVD at the beginning of the ceremony with images of children from around the world participating in the Peace Run, really gives the children a feeling of connection with children all over the world. It’s thrilling to watch their reactions.
The Mayor of the City of Mount Gambier, Cr Andrew Lee, came to the school and very warmly welcomed the Team to the City.
Jocelyn Nickels from The Border Watch Newspaper came to McDonald Primary School.
Some of the younger children read out some really touching poems they had written on peace.
Nicole and Ben were chosen to receive the Certificate on behalf of the school.
The Team then ran 50 km from Mt Gambier to Millicent North Primary.
The girls team chose to do 3 km legs each to try to get the distance covered in time for the 11:30 am ceremony in Millicent.
Annette Abbott greeted the Team and held the Peace Torch.
The 200 children at Millicent North Primary met us in their warm and cosy library which we were really grateful for because it had been a chilly morning.
The children responded so well to the song and it was great to see all the teachers and staff singing and acting out the World Harmony Run song with us also.
Thank you to Zoe and Harry for receiving the Certificate of Appreciation.
Thank you to the Principal, Graham Slarks.
Next we ran to Beachport.
Atul met these gentlemen along the way, who are on a road trip from Perth.
Roger Boyd, A.K.A. the Healthy Stoner, was happy to take a break for a chat with Atul and to hold the Peace Torch during his ride from Perth to Cairns.
Beachport Primary was our final ceremony for the day.
The whole school, all 57 children welcomed us in a way we will never forget….
The whole school came out to greet the Team bearing this beautiful hand-painted banner!
They’d spent the morning preparing peace posters, flags and even computer animations on the theme and were really well informed about the Peace Run.
We felt so at home in this caring, loving and respectful family environment.
Jasmine and Joel accepted the Certificate of Appreciation on behalf of the school community.
Lynn Houlihan with some of the children's artwork.
The teachers joined in.
Our South Australian Coordinator, Padmanandana Marek is doing a fantastic job of keeping everyone happy and organised.
A glorious day calmly draws to its close.
Liz at The Lobster Motel hosted our South Australian Coordinators, Ivan and Helen Marek tonight. The Lobster Motel has a long tradition of supporting the Peace Run going all the way back to 1995. We are extremely grateful to them for their ongoing support.
Tom at the Crown Inn Hotel generously hosted five of the boys in freshly renovated rooms in what we soon discovered to be a delightfully warm and welcoming country pub. Aztec held the torch on Tom's behalf.
Alecia at the Lacepede Bay Motel kindly donated a room for Pushpendra Uppal on what will be his last night on the 2017 Australian Peace Run.
Tonight’s accommodation for the girls team was generously offered to us by the Kingston Caravan Park. Annemarie was happy to hold the Torch.
We are blessed to be on the stunning Kingston foreshore and are looking forward to rising early in the morning to meditate on the ocean.
