Team A

At the conclusion of a one and a half hour drive from Hobart through heavy rain and wind, our girls were rewarded with a warm bakery and an even warmer welcome in the historic town of Ross. If you have ever dreamed of walking into a bakery packed with superb goodies and being told that you could take your pick of anything you liked and then discovering that it was free, you will understand our experience in the Ross Village Bakery. This hospitality was particularly welcome after the girls had braved the elements to run over the beautiful bridge that was completed in 1836. We were treated to a lesson in friendly professionalism as Mario Fenech organised us into a variety of groups and positions in order to make the most of this photo opportunity.

Our day was hosted by Lorraine and Fiona, the dynamic duo from the Northern Midlands Council, who had arranged an outstanding day showcasing the friendly people, the awesome views and magnificent food of their municipality. We drove to Campbell Town District School where principal, Steve Plowright and his friendly staff and students made us welcome. The motto of this school – 'Unity is Strength' – seemed particularly apt as we talked about our mutual mission to share oneness and harmony.

A highlight of our day was visiting two estates that are currently negotiating to gain World Heritage listing – Woolmers and Brickendon. Damien’s enthusiasm for the beautiful Woolmers’ estate was reflected in the meticulous attention to detail in maintaining the beauty of this place.

Louise Archer is the seventh generation owner of Brickendon and once again we were treated to the sights of buildings that have been preserved from the generations.

These buildings were watched over by a selection of wonderful animals – this goat was a particular favourite.

The students and staff of Longford Primary school stood patiently in freezing conditions as we joined with their principal Heather Fahey in celebrating the philosophy of world harmony.

The students enjoyed a run around the oval with the torch and flags.

We then drove to the picturesque town of Evandale – with a memorable experience en route. This was provided by the owners of the Gourmet Sauce Factory, Tim and Julie Barber.

We were treated to a memorable lunch of soup, sandwiches and apples picked freshly from the trees in his outstanding gardens. The meal was served al fresco at beautifully presented tables under the warmth of a big gas heater. Nataliya Lehonkova from the Ukraine was able to introduce us to the sweet taste of the pith from the honey locust tree seed pods. Tim showed us the wonders of his garden, accompanied by Maddie the Golden Labrador who was hoping for some leftovers from her new friends. This company manufactures and exports a diverse range of sauces and jams.

Vice Principal Robert Chick welcomed us to the Evandale school. The students in this district are warm, friendly and interested in the idea of the flame being a representation of harmony and friendship.

All of the schools joined in with the World Harmony theme song with great gusto. Our new friends Lorraine and Fiona left us at this point and we continued up to Poatina where we met the generous and gentle people from Fusion Australia. This village is inhabited by approximately 250 residents who opened their heart to us in the same way as they do to the community they serve. This group provides career training to young people who might otherwise not be able to work towards an effective career. Their spirituality and peace shone through as they told us about the valuable service they offer.

Our day was made complete by the hospitality of Shirley Hartnett who welcomed us into who her beautiful Devonport home with sensational food, a warm fire and ‘real beds'. We offer our most sincere gratitude to all who made our day such a highlight as we continued our journey of Harmony.

– Audrey Ward (Australia)

Team B

Today brought yet another early start,

this time on the road by 5:30am to journey from Hobart to Queenstown. The nature of our Tasmanian trip has seen a deviation from our usual modus operandi, in that we have often been driving from place to place in order to meet with all the inspired people with whom we have been in contact. This has proven challenging to some degree, as the team have grown accustomed to the liberating freedom of running continually on the open road.

However, the reduced running kilometres has afforded us the opportunity to address some niggling injuries and to rest our bodies a little, which has been particularly appreciated in light of the looming reality of the Nullarbor desert and accompanying 300-km days.

Four hours after our early start we descended the exceptionally winding road into Queenstown

where we were received by Jo-Anne O’Brien from the West Coast Council Chambers. Jo-Anne had kindly organised for a tour of the local copper mine.

A short drive later we were met by Geoff Cordery, the Environmental Manager of Copper Mines of Tasmania, who gave us a guided tour of the site.

It was a new experience for all of us as we encountered some extraordinary landscapes; the rich red tones of the iron-rich hills were unique. It was nice for the runners to do something completely different from our usual schedule.

Next stop was the WCSSSCA Cross Country Carnival in Rosebery.

The carnival was comprised of students from all the schools of the region – Rosebery District High School, Mountain Heights District School, Strahan Primary School and Zeehan Primary School.

The staging area was a picturesque football ground and running track nestled in a verdant valley. Wispy clouds draped themselves over wooded hills and, much to our delight, a tentative afternoon sun made its first appearance of the day. We spoke to the assembled crowd for a short while and then ran a lap of the oval together with the children, taking it in turns to lead the pack whilst bearing the torch.

The children were lovely; they were polite and showed great care for one another, particularly as they patiently organised themselves into school groups for photos to be taken.

Before long it was time for the next race of their carnival to begin and also time for us to move on. We departed on foot, taking time to visit the powerful cascades of nearby Stitt River Falls.

Our final stop for the day brought us to Cradle Mountain and the stunning stillness of Dove Lake.

It is a truly magical place. An ancient and sacred consciousness permeates the secluded glades and gullies and simultaneously encompasses the magnificent rocky peaks and silken waters. If elves were to be found in Australia, then this would surely be their home.

There is a revitalising moistness in the air and an almost tangible life energy in every leaf and tree.

Carrying the torch on the 6 km circuit of boardwalks and tracks around the lake was one of those extra-special experiences that completely renews the spirit of the team.

The breathtaking surrounds focused our attention to such a degree that all our thoughts and worries seemed to dissolve into the depths of the lake, leaving behind only our rhythmic breaths, footfalls and a sense of being deeply connected to this pristine wonderland.

It was one of those places where the torch also seemed to come into an element of its own, the flames dancing in the mellow light of the dense forests and then rising skyward in the open expanses.

And of course it was our Icelandic and Italian team members, Runar and Sandro, who had to destroy our peaceful reverie with a shrieking dash into the frigid waters.

Much to the delight of our international runners, our day ended with numerous encounters with the local wildlife…

In particular, one tame wombat named Reginald captured our hearts. Initially, we thought he was a wild wombat, and were amazed when he seemed to wander in our direction. You can only imagine our surprise when he walked right up to us and nuzzled our ankles, obliging us to pick him up and give him a cuddle!

Thank you to Roger Kennewell and Charmaine Bunton from Discovery Holiday Park Cradle Mountain, who kindly accommodated us at the last minute after vehicle trouble brought an unexpected change to our itinerary.

Tune in tomorrow for details of our final day in magical Tasmania.

Vive le World Harmony Run!

– Christopher Willis (Australia)

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Team Members:
Prabhakar Street (Canada), Edi Serban (Romania ), Sandro Zincarini (Italy), Runar Gigja (Iceland), Dima Lehonkov (Ukraine), Colm Magee (Ireland), Christopher Willis (Australia), Prachar Stegemann (Australia), Audrey Ward (Australia), Lucy Monro (Australia), Kate Volkhardt (Australia), Nataliya Lehonkova (Ukraine), Friederike Makowka (Switzerland), Angela Muhs (Germany), Kylie Williams (Australia)

Harmonemail:
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Gallery: See more images!

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