Team A began the day with a drive into Picton, a delightful town just off the highway. We were welcomed into the Wollondilly Shire Council Chambers by the Mayor Michael Banasil and councillors.

They treated us to a delicious continental breakfast, along with generous and good-humoured company. We were almost ready to give up the day's running to listen to their fascinating stories, but our sense of purpose came foward and we bid farewell. We left wearing our treasured gifts - Wollondilly caps and badges.

Kate ran up the "Razorback" out of Picton: much to her relief it did not live up to the daunting image created in our minds by the Wollondilly Council members.

Next stop was Camden South Primary School, where we were welcomed by the applause of over two hundred children.

The school band performed a few pieces to welcome us and spread cheer throughout the audience. The Camden Mayor, Fred Anderson gave an inspiring talk about harmony within the community. The Harmony torch was then passed around to the eager children.

After an extensive photo shoot with the local newspaper photographer, the Principal, Lynda Green invited us to the staffroom for lunch. We were joined by the Mayor and a group of teachers. We were very impressed with the way this school embraced the true spirit of the World Harmony Run wholeheartedly.

We continued our run to Campelltown. As the population thickened, our run became increasingly punctuated by the tooting horns and support of passing traffic.

The Mayor of Campelltown City Council, Brenton Banfield was ready and waiting for our arrival at Campelltown Performing Arts High School, joined by the Principal, Robin Pulbrook.

We made a grand entrance to the cheers of close to three hundred students onto a spot-lit stage with the background sounds of the upbeat track of the World Harmony Run theme song. We were then officially welcomed by the Principal, Mayor and School Reps.

We were treated like real celebraties! After a number of moving speeches about World Harmony we were given front row seats to a string of amazing performances.(we were later told these were virtually spontaneous). The energy of the students was refreshingly vibrant. They displayed great enthusiasm and a true sense of oneness. The passing of the torch became a beautiful celebration of the occasion, as the lights went out and the theme song was played again.

We are extremely grateful to the Campelltown Performing Arts High School for putting on such a wonderful reception at such short notice. We were particularly impressed by the talented young student who nearly moved us to tears with her beautiful and soulful rendition of a most appropriate song 'From a distance.'

The three of us ended our day in Sydney in front of a log fire with hot hearty soup and fruit crumble lovingly made by Bernice's mum. As we reflected upon the day's events we all felt it could not have been more complete.

Meanwhile, Team B took care of the ceremonies in Sydney. Our first stop was at Lewisham Primary School. I remembered going to a school in Lewisham for 9 months when I was just 5 years old. I gave a quick phone call to my mother who confirmed that this was the very school. What a pleasant coincidence!

The children answered questions on what world harmony meant to them. One boy said it meant God: who could argue with that?

Fort St Public School has great views of the harbour bridge and the ceremony there resembled the majesty of the bridge. The children had spent many hours learning the World Harmony Run Song, which echoed through the whole school. Well done to the principal and teachers for organising the day, and thanks for the poem on harmony.

We ran around the Sydney Observatory with the children and made our way down to the Sydney Opera House at Darling Harbour.

We noticed some smiling faces of tourists coming back from an exhilarating jet boat ride and asked the operators at Oz Jet Boating if they would hold the torch for world harmony.

They were eager to assist and allowed the torch on board their fantastic boat for a thrilling ride - reaching speeds of up to 80 kilometres an hour, and easily reeling off 270 degree spins. I can’t think of a time when the torch has been faster on water and it was high-speed, adrenalin-pumping action. Thanks to Simon and the crew for the exhilarating ride and words of encouragement for the goal of bringing the world together.

---

Harmonemail:
You can send a message to the runners or read the messages.