The day began with our departure from our Big 4 Riverside Caravan Park Accommodation. Staff member Emily held the torch.
At 9:00am the team arrived at Yarloop Primary. We practised our theme song on some local chickens.
The visit was brightened by artwork prepared by the students.
Creative offerings like art and writing are a cherished part of Peace Run visits, and Yarloop’s contribution added a joyful and heartfelt beginning to the day.
After leaving at 9:45am, the womens' team ran the first 3 km out of Yarloop toward Waroona...
.... while the mens' team completed the final 4 km into Waroona St Joseph’s Primary.
The team met Waroona St Joseph’s at the oval before their sports carnival.
After the Waroona ceremony, the womens' team ran 16 km out of town toward Dwellingup....
..., and the boys ran 20 km into Dwellingup before the 1:00pm visit to Dwellingup Primary.
At Dwellingup Primary, two girls shared a beautiful poem that brought a special sense of sincerity and peace to the ceremony. Poems, reflections and other creative expressions are deeply in keeping with the Peace Run tradition, and their words gave the visit a gentle and uplifting quality that stayed with the team.
"Peace: See peace everywhere, it’s so beautiful people are kind even when they're new. Stars shine bright but peace shines brighter, together hand in hand we go together. So just remember peace is love not war, peace is like a bike with no rippeds and it’s quiet clear to see. So just remember be kind don’t start a war, it doesn’t hurt and especially don’t let peace lay on the floor." (In Western Australian school slang, saying a bike has "no rippeds" means the bike does not have back-pedal brakes.)
The afternoon continued with a visit to Carcoola Primary School in North Pinjarra. Principal Ben Parkin was delighted to hold the torch, having fond memories of being part of the Commonwealth Games torch relay.
Grahak was drawn to a tree on the grounds which looked like a large Bonsai.
After the final visit, the team travelled to Perth for the evening and stayed at Canning Bridge Auto Lodge. As with many Peace Run days, the accommodation marked a welcome chance to rest after a full program of running, school visits and meaningful exchanges with local communities on our last day of the Peace Run.
