Today the World Harmony Run team gathered at Melbourne's Eternal Shrine

and then ran in to Federation Square, Melbourne’s central public event arena, for a reception ceremony and concert.

The torch was greeted upon arrival by the world premiere of a special orchestral arrangement of Sri Chinmoy's World-Harmony-Run theme song, composed for the occasion by Australian-Chinese composer, Julian Yu.

The runners were welcomed to Melbourne by the Rt. Hon. Lord Mayor, Mr John So.

John stated that Melbourne was a perfect example of living in harmony, with 150 nations represented in its multi-cultural composition. He was very happy to endorse the Run and commended everyone for such an inspiring event.

The Torch was then presented to the Rev'd Helen Summers, founder of the Interfaith Centre of Melbourne. Helen spoke very warmly of her association with Sri Chinmoy and the privilege it had been to experience Sri Chinmoy's Peace Concert in New York on two occasions.

Kate Smyth, Australian Olympic and Commonwealth Games representative, ran in with the team and when she spoke, she emphasised the need to express our love and harmony to one another, and to share this inner peace and joy simply by smiling at each other each day.

The Harmony Torch was then presented to young Sam Jamieson, 2008 winner of the Stawell Gift, and a representative of the Australian Catholic University Exercise Science program. Sam’s moving words on the Harmony Run inspired all of us present with his confidence and belief in the aims of the run to spread harmony from heart to heart.

Our friend Rabbi Philip Heilbrunn, Chief Minister from St Kilda Shule, was very happy to accept the World Harmony Torch a second time, having been a part of the Interfaith relay in 2007, and warmly endorsed the ideals of the World Harmony Run.

Veeraja Uppal, Operations Co-ordinator for the Run in Australia, spoke eloquently on behalf of the running team before they introduced themselves and their country of origin.

Mr Kishore Cunningham introduced the World Harmony Run Torch-Bearer Awards, and Mr. Peter Cullen AM, founder of RecLink as the first Torch-Bearer recipient in Melbourne.

Peter spoke very warmly and encouragingly about the aims of the Run and how they intersect with the aims of RecLink, by focusing on inclusiveness in society, and expressed his sense of honour to accept such an award.

A second Torch-Bearer Award was presented to a long-standing friend of the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team, Mrs Shirley Young,

an extraordinary veteran runner, who at 70 years of age, ran an amazing 176kms in 24 hours, a record which most experts believe will never be broken.

Kavisha Mazella, an Aria Award-winning Melbourne singer/songwriter, was invited on stage to perform her beautiful song Invisible, Indivisible.

The Melbourne Girl's Grammar School Choir gave an impressive and delightful performance,

with recitations from the Desiderata, and songs accompanied by very sweet actions.

while a DVD from their school played on the big screen outlining some of their school’s activities in Harmony Studies.

The 2008 Melbourne World Harmony Run reception was then closed with the very talented Kew High School Swing Band and vocalists who entertained the crowd with their fantastic rendition of Chamelion.

The World Harmony Run team then made their way to Eureka Skydeck, the tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere.

Here we met with Mr John Murphy and Mr Craig Opie. Mr Opie was presented with the World Harmony Run Torch-Bearer Award for his selfless community and charitable services.

Mr Opie stated that his organisation's philosophy was that business is not always about money, but about sharing and giving to others, so that everyone can prosper in the community. The team was then treated to a view from “The Edge,” a glass-floored viewing platform on the 88th level.

Stunning views in every direction.

We would like to welcome Friederike Makowka from Switzerland who will now accompany us all the way to Perth!

– Mrinali Clarke (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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Team Members:
Mrinali Clarke (Australia), Anubha Baird (Australia), Nataliya Lehonkova (Ukraine), (New Zealand), Friederike Makowka (Switzerland), Angela Muhs (Germany), Veeraja Uppal (Australia), 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), Colm Magee (Ireland), Peter Elliot (Australia)

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

Gallery: See more images!

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