Today the World Harmony Run team left the bustling Gold Coast condominiums and high-rises for the simplicity and beauty of the northern NSW countryside. Rolling hills and plush green fields all around giving us a wonderful feeling of serenity and peacefulness during our first entry into the quieter side of the Australian landscape.


Our first school stop of the run around the continent was the Satya Sai Primary School in Murwillumbah. This is a school with a difference – when we arrived the children were meditating. The experience was both inspiring and profound as we felt we had come to a school that had a message and an understanding that were perfectly synchronous with our own Harmony Run and its founder Sri Chinmoy.


The children sang a sweet and soulful song welcoming us all with so much enthusiasm and warmth that we felt completely at home. Next we passed the torch to each student around the schoolyard and they all stopped and offered a fervent and deep wish for world harmony.





"Our school very much is into integrating human values into the school curriculum... This is a very great way to start this term by participating in a run for values and harmony throughout the world. We wish you every success and we will follow your progress around Australia. We will get our map on the wall to follow your progress over the next hundred days. Thank you very much for the effort that you put into this and every success along the way and we are looking forward to a better world." – Bob Mallow, Principal of the Satya Sai Primary School.

Thanks so much to all of the staff and students for such a wonderful and uplifting experience.


From there we headed south to Byron Bay and the lighthouse – the most easterly point on the continent.


Our team paid a visit to the Byron Bay Public School on our arrival and did a circuit, high-fiving every student standing there in a huge ring around the field.


There was a lot of laughter and happiness and joy as we slapped hands with the kids and made our way to the assembly square in the middle of the school.


We were all very impressed with the understanding, behaviour and enthusiasm of the kids who seemed to have as much fun as we did sharing the message of harmony and oneness.


We all wish to thank them for such a fun and happy meeting.


As the sun began to slowly set below the horizon the World Harmony Run team gathered at the Peace Pole at Main Beach, Byron Bay.


There we were all greeted by Mayor Jan Barham who, on behalf of the peace-loving people of Byron Bay, officially welcomed us to the city.

Byron Bay has long been regarded as a haven of peace in Australia, attracting visitors from across the globe to its sun-drenched shores and open hearts of its inhabitants.
It was only apt that the World Harmony Run was able to bestow its second Torch-Bearer Award on the Australian leg of the Run to Jan Mangleson of the Byron Bay Community Centre.

Jan has been a tireless supporter of the Community Centre that is affectionately known as 'The Heart of Byron'. The Centre runs a very active theatre group, a local radio station, a writers centre and adult education courses, as well as regular meals for underprivileged and homeless people.


The Centre also boasts a concert Steinway grand piano which attracts many fine pianists and is reputed to be one of the best pianos in the country.

We were also very pleased to meet Richard, another very active citizen in this close-knit community and a World War II veteran. Richard commented that as a war veteran he and his fellow soldiers really appreciated the value of peace and was really pleased to be part of the World Harmony Run.

Richard, who is a member of the local Returned Services League (RSL), has recently put forward the motion for the RSL to welcome into its ranks the servicemen and women of other nations who have now settled in Australia, including those who fought against Australia in previous conflicts. At 90 years young Richard was a great inspiration to the team.

As the light slipped away, Mayor Jan Barham then invited the team for a warm drink at a nearby beachside cafe. The people of Byron Bay have made us most welcome.

 

– Prabhakar Street (Canada) and Veeraja Uppal (Australia)

If you would like to place a link or a write a story about the World Harmony Run on your website, click here to Link to Us. We'll be happy to place a reciprocal link and list you on our Friends Online page.

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Distance: 95 km

Team Members:
Prabhakar Street (Canada), Edi Serban (Romania), Standa Zubaty (Czech Republic), Sandro Zincarini (Italy), Runar Gigja (Iceland), Marichi Clarke (Australia), Misha Kulagin (Russia), Dima Lehonkov (Ukraine), Veeraja (Uppal (Australia), Angela Muhs (Germany), Anubha Baird (Australia), Nataliya Lehonkova (Ukraine), Garbitashri Webster (New Zealand)

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

Gallery: See more images!

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