ROTARY PEACE CITY PROJECT is all GOOD NEWS

The history of events since the dedication of Wagga Wagga, N.S.W., as the first Rotary Peace City in the world in February, 1993, shows that this great project has gained ground and strength around the world. We all know that Rotary has had a long history of working for peace, through different programs and themes, developing tolerance, harmony and calm within communities, both nationally and internationally.

Davao City on the Philippines is now a Rotary Peace City. The Smiling Policeman, Past President Geoffrey Little of the Rotary Club of Wollstonecraft, NSW, spoke at the ceremony in his role as Rotary Peace City Project Dean of Ambassadors.

As far back as 1921, with the adoption of the Object of Rotary, Rotarians have pledged in the fourth object: "The advancement of international understanding, goodwill and peace, through a world fellowship of business and professional persons, united in the ideal of service" to work for peace.

Over time, we have had three Rotary themes bearing the word peace. Firstly in 1981/82 by President Stan McCaffrey World Understanding and Peace Through Rotary, then Chuck Keller in 1987/88 Rotarians -United in Service-Dedicated to Peace and 1995/96 Herb Brown with his theme Act with Integrity, Serve with Love, Work for Peace.

The current Rotary Peace City/Town project started on November 13, 1990, when the Rotary Club of Wagga Wagga Kooringal agreed to support the project, to dedicate Wagga Wagga as a Rotary Peace City and to erect a peace monument in the city.

The project was officially launched in Wagga Wagga in October, 1991, inspired by Past President Rajendra Saboo's theme Look Beyond Yourself with the symbol of the dove of peace flying over the world taken as the official Peace City/Town emblem.

On February 23, 1993, the first peace monument was unveiled by Past World President Royce Abbey and the then Mayor Pat Brassil declared the City of Wagga Wagga the first Rotary Peace City in the world.

There now are more than 20 peace counties, cities and towns in different countries in the world. Manila, in the Philippines, was the second Rotary Peace City to be declared on June 22, 1994, and the first outside Australia.

Soon to follow were Port Washington, Wisconsin, U.S.A.; KBE and Ibaraki, Japan; East London, South Africa; Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.A.; Hiroshima, Japan; Cannes, France; the County and City of Los Angeles and the City of Montebello, California, U.S.A; Milledgeville and Baldwin County, Georgia, U.S.A; Windhoek, Namibia, Africa; Gifu City, Japan; Zamboanga City, Philippines; Parksville, British Columbia, Canada; Coolamon, N.S.W., Cities of Makati and Davao, Philippines, and Lockhart, N.S.W. Cities of Makati, Philippines, and Lockhart, N.S.W., were declared Rotary Peace Cities on February 23, 1999, and Davao City in the Philippines on February 26, 1999.

The first Rotary Peace City Conference was held at East Los Angeles in June, 1996, organised and chaired by Past President Paul Warner. of the Rotary"' Club of the East Los Angeles. Representatives came from Rotary Peace Cities around the world.

Plans are now under way to hold the next Rotary Peace City Conference in Wagga Wagga, N.S.W., one week before the Sydney Olympic Games in the year 2000.

This announcement was made at the District 9700 Conference at Young, N.S.W. More than 25 Rotary Peace City Special Ambassadors have been appointed since February 23, 1993. They are from Wollstonecraft, Wagga Wagga Kooringal, Lockhart and Coolamon in Australia, and Manila, Zamboanga, Makati and Davao in the Philippines, Kobe in Japan, Honolulu, East Los Angeles, Milledgeville and Baldwin County, Port Washington in Wisconsin USA and East London in South Africa.

Past President Geoffrey Little, of the Club of Wollstonecraft, who was appointed the Dean of Ambassadors, and Moto Nishimura of Japan, have travelled to many countries throughout the world, successfully promoting the project. The late Mother Teresa, who was the spiritual mentor for the project, was appointed as an Honorary Special Ambassador, for her encouraging letters. Her request that The Prayer of St Francis be read at the dedication ceremonies has been followed.

CARDINAL Jaime Sin, Catholic Archbishop of Manila, has succeeded the late Mother Teresa as spiritual mentor.

Cardinal Jaime Sin, Catholic Archbishop of Manila in the Philippines has been appointed an honorary special ambassador of the Rotary Peace City Project. He is pictured with Past President Sergeant Geoffrey Little who is Dean of Ambassadors

On July 1, 1998, District Governor Peter Walsh formed a new District 9700 International Peace Committee with Chairman Past President Tony Quinliv and four other District Rotarians. This Committee is responsible for the promotion of peace activities and for the chartering of Rotary Peace County, Cities and Towns, both nationally and internationally.

New Rotary Peace City/Town formation kits have been set up by the District Committee. Following inquiries from a number of interested clubs from different parts of the world, these are being distributed.

They are available from the Rotary Peace City Committee in Wagga Wagga, N.S.W.

The aims and objectives of the Rotary Peace City/Town project are:

1.To have the Rotary Peace City Project, along with the Peace Symbol, initiated by the Rotary Club of Wagga Wagga Kooringal accepted as a Rotary International project and symbol.

2. To prompt Rotary International to encourage counties, cities, towns and municipalities around the world to become declared R.I.-facilitated peace cities, etc., and to display the peace symbol on peace monuments or buildings or in prominent positions such as dedicated peace parks or other prominent sites.

3. For participating Rotary clubs to sell the Rotary Peace City Project peace symbol badges throughout the world, specially during Rotary Peace and Understanding Month in February each year. February 23 is R.I. World Peace and Understanding Day.

4. To bring together the people of the world in the promotion of lasting peace through International fellowship, understanding and goodwill.

The Rotary Peace City Project involves promoting the concept of peaceful coexistence through a wide variety of activities. The District 9700 Peace Committee can advise clubs of suggested peace projects and is available to assist them in the implementation of these projects at club level.

Rotary Peace and Understanding Day ceremonies on February 23 are being encouraged at designated peace monuments and peace parks or on an appropriate date each year. Dignitaries and citizens and local and overseas students are invited to join the celebrations.

Rotary Peace City Project Ambassadorial Awards are being presented to local citizens selected for giving outstanding voluntary service to the community. Essay and colouring-in competitions with a peace theme are suggested for students. A plank of the education process of the Rotary Peace.

Past President Dominic Williams, of the Rotary Club of Forbes NSW., PP Tony Quinlivan, of the Rotary Club of Waga Wagga-Kooringla, NSW., Japanese Rotarian Motonobu Nishimura, of Osaka, guest speaker Angry Anderson, of Sydney NSW., PP Geoffrey Little of the Rotary Club of Wollstonecraft NSW and District 9700 Governor Peter Walsh of the Rotary Club of Wagga Wagga, NSW, at Young. Editors Note: Very sadly PDG Peter Walsh and his dear wife both lost their lives in an aeroplane crash just after the Chicago Rotary Convention in 2005.

City Project is the promulgation of Model United Nations Assemblies II (MUNA) through Past President Dominic Williams of the Rotary Club of Forbes, N.S.W. He is the national MUNA chairman.

Conflict Resolution training and the Real Justice Forum, involving the Wagga Wagga model Juvenile Conferencing Program, are ingredients of the Rotary Peace City Project.

It is suggested that serious consideration be given for clubs and Districts to include Conflict Resolution and Juvenile Conferencing training through Rotary clubs and schools to encourage wider participation in the Rotary Peace City Project.

Suggested fund raising activities should include assisting in appropriate humanitarian programs and for students to sell Rotary Peace City Project Peace Symbol badges in the community.

The Rotary Club of Millegeville, Georgia, U.S.A., raised $US15,000 for the victims of floods, fires and tornado disasters in their state, as well as the tidal wave disaster in New Guinea.

A Rotary information display and fundraising day organised by the combined Wagga Wagga Rotary Peace City clubs was held at Woolworths and a collection at a football ground, raised more than $A2,500 for the victims the tidal wave disaster in Papua New Guinea.