Page 579 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 30 March 2021
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that friendship can often mean more and grow deeper in the context of practical and selfless action. He said:
Whatever Rotary may mean to us, to the world it will be known by the results it achieves.
In fact, when I read Rotary’s vision statement I felt that it was a message that deserves to be taken on far more widely in our world, which can be overly consumerist and self-absorbed. The vision statement reads:
Together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change—across the globe, in our communities and in ourselves.
And it certainly has achieved results all over the world.
We have just heard about the efforts to end polio but also about providing clean water, supporting maternal and child health in disadvantaged communities, developing regenerative agriculture, installing solar infrastructure, funding disaster relief and replanting native forests, as well as much more. Its partnerships with local organisations and its focus on manageable-sized, practical projects is a proven and inspirational model.
Rotary’s strong focus on youth is impressive too: exchange programs, leadership programs and youth clubs which, like their parent organisation, focus on creating practical results through specific projects.
Here in Canberra the Rotary contribution that stands out the most for me, however, is the Peace Bell in Nara Peace Park. It was only launched three years ago, yet it has already become a natural and important community focus not only for celebration but also for mourning and remembrance. Just this month members of the Japanese community and their friends gathered at the Peace Bell to mark the 10th anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami that devastated northern Japan in 2011. In January the bell was rung to mark the coming into force of the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and in March 2019 it was the site of a very sombre vigil, following the massacre of 51 peaceful worshippers in Christchurch.
Having attended a number of these occasions, I thank Rotary very sincerely for Canberra’s Peace Bell, the 23rd such bell around the world. The first was rung in 1947, marking the second anniversary of the atomic bombing of Japan. There are now peace bells in cities and towns as diverse and far flung as Mexico City, Ulaanbaatar, Vienna, Ottawa, Cowra, Madrid, New York, Tashkent and now the 24th peace bell in the Israeli town of Lod.
Once again, I congratulate everyone involved in the Rotary movement—I also note the presence of Michael Moore here in the chamber today—locally and nationally, as well as internationally. It is great work and great principles. I thank them for their contribution to our community.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
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