While some team members are waking up with a stunning rainbow at the campground
others are already by the ocean
running with the Peace Torch, together with local runners, are Gary Leckie and Scott.
Gary Leckie draws a map for our route to Grafton and shows us some of the most beautiful spots in Byron Bay, included the Easternmost point of Australia and some secret forests.
We meet Peace Torch lovers by the lighthouse.
"Imagine a morning rainbow." - Sri Chinmoy
Thank you Gary and Scott! It has been a truly magnificent start of the day, running with you through Byron Bay.
At Byron Community Primary School we are received warm-heartedly by enthusiastic and loving children. Let's see if you can guess Gianluca's native country...
The teacher, taken by the game, forgets not to whisper the right answer to the students. What a joy for the kids to cheer her up while doing ten push-ups!
Aspiration is the flame and happiness is the light of the flame. - Sri Chinmoy
Everyone gets to hold the Peace Torch. They all really get the message of the Peace Run: to feel peace is to be in the heart.
The principal, Tony Cross, is very happy with the Peace Run visit. He utters that the seed for peace, love and happiness is in each one of us. Hopefully next time we have more time to spend together. We all had a most moving time at your school!
It's time to run to the next school.
At Casino High School we are received with smiles and questions about the Peace Run. "Do you really run all the way?", the students ask. They cannot believe that we are actually running all around Australia! Only when Roni, our Brazilian peace runner, starts running ahead of the rest of the team towards Grafton, they believe us. They all cheer for him!
A moment of peaceful silence.
The teacher Jane Duley leads the way for a run with the Peace Torch!
Thank you Casino High School for receiving us with broad smiles and beautiful hearts!
We fall in love with St Finbarr’s Catholic Primary. The children are all ears and eager to know more about the Peace Run.
The School Principal, Tim Bleakley, shares a touching and interactive moment about peace with the students and passes the Peace Torch to them, starting with Alaska.
They feel peace in their heart and imagine sharing it with the world at large. "When I grow up I want to share peace!", says a little girl with a glowing smile, to her friend.
What special peace artwork you have all done! Thank you so much for receiving us with such joy and enthusiasm! We bring you all on the Peace Run in our hearts.
It's time to take off to the next school.
Ready, steady... smile for peace and...
Run!
Thank you dearest students for joining us in the Peace Run relay up to your school steps, South Grafton High School, from South Grafton Cenotaph. You are all Peace Runners now!
You are great at guessing our countries. Well done!
Thank you for this time together students and teachers at South Grafton High School.
The Mayor of Grafton, Ray Smith, at the school meeting shared a meaningful message with the students: "You can all do something this afternoon or tonight to add to peace in the world, and it could be just being kind to your neighbour, kind to your parents. That all adds to creating peace. I understand we're going to plant a tree over in Elsie Crisp Park this afternoon, a peace tree. Hopefully some of you children will be able to help maintain that tree, the council staff obviously will, but if you walk past the park and see that tree, just remember it." Here he is holding the Peace Torch together with his wife Donna, after planting the Peace Tree.
Thank you for embracing the Peace Run message with all your heart Mr Ray Smith.
Kieran McAndrew, a great runner who volunteered to help us run 45 km tomorrow, is holding the Peace Torch together with the Mayor Ray Smith and with our Peace Run team captain, Saranyu Pearson. Thank you Jason Haywood, from the Tree Management Office of CVC, for doing a wonderful work with the tree planting process.
"When you really have something to offer to the world, then you can become truly humble. A tree when it has no fruit to offer, remains erect. But when the tree is laden with fruit, it bends down." - Sri Chinmoy
We meet lovely smiles in Grafton.
Darryll is so generous that he opens the doors of The Salvation Army to us for the night, so that we can all be warm inside.
What is joy? It is a bird That we all want to catch. It is the same bird That we all love to see flying. - Sri Chinmoy
