A powerful start to some serious km's.
It's time to start heading towards Townsville.
We started the day with a visit to Charters Towers Central State School. We were warmly welcomed by the school's principal Linda Blakoe
Early morning at the coffee shop.
Emily and Akzhanar run towards Charters Towers School.
The children are watching and listening attentively to the international team.
Muggi's last country guessing game in the Australia's Peace Run this year.
And time for a song together.
Three senior class students will try to remind the junior students how to find peace within themselves.
The closer we get to Townsville, the more and more trees we notice.
After leaving Charters Towers, the runners worked hard to run the kilometers towards Woodstock, where the students of Woodstock School were waiting for us.
Woodstock School is a lovely country school with about 30 students. They watched the Peace Run video and then learned about the Peace Run.
The kids were so good at the country guessing game! Some of the runner's countries are quite difficult to guess - even for teachers!
Then the Peace Run team taught the kids the World Harmony Run song and actions. Now we already knew the Woodstock kids were great singers, and they proved it again when they learned the new song so quickly.
We were so happy when the kids wanted to sing a song for us. They sang their school song, a very energetic song called "Woodstock, Let's Rock!" complete with actions that included some top tier air guitar playing.
Each child had the opportunity to hold the Peace Torch and make a heartfelt wish for peace. One student shared with a runner that her wish wasn’t just for the moment she held the torch, but for peace to be present while all the other children held it too. In that simple gesture was a deep insight: peace isn’t confined to moments or individuals. It’s something we can wish for and nurture together, at all times.
The teachers ran a short lap with the torch, cheered on by the kids who showed their appreciation for what their teachers do in their enthusiastic applause.
After that it was outside to run together with the torch. And again the Woodstock kids demonstrated how good they already are at practicing concepts of Peace. They listened and followed the safety instructions, looked out for each other, ran slowly so that the youngest students could keep up, and made sure everyone got a fair turn. What a great team the Woodstock students are!
Thank you Woodstock school for having us to visit. Your smiles and enthusiasm gave us the energy to get back on the road and start running the last 40 kilometers into Townsville. It was the hottest part of the day but your wishes and dreams you put into the torch gave us all the energy we needed.
Susan finds a buddy.
We finish at the coast - Secret Beach in Townsville.
Thank you Woolworths for your generous donation!
Bayarkhuu cooks tonight.
Amalendu, co-ordinator from Townsville to Brisbane, arrives with his roving office.
