Team A

We ran out of Mt Gambier into Millicent through some magnificent pine forest plantations.

There were many trucks passing us, loaded with the wood. Off to be milled to make beautiful furniture, house frames and paper products.

The Europeans on our running team said it reminded them of home, with the pine fragrance permeating the air and pines stretching to the sky.

We ran into town at 12 pm to be greeted by local community groups at the Millicent Work Options Centre,

a local initiative that aims to get people with disabilities positive, independent, and employed. It was a great atmosphere with people present from Apex, the local Wattle Range Council, local community and the magical Millicent Lionesses who cooked up a wonderful selection of foods with some of the best Rocky Road we had ever tasted.

It helped to fuel us on the rocky road as we still had 21 km to go after the function!

Mayor Mark Braes received the torch on behalf of Wattle Range and passed the torch to everyone present who had conveniently formed a circle of friendship.

Thanks to Karen Lock from Wattle Range Council for organising such a warm reception for us and the Lioness group for the feast.

Afterwards we drove just out of Robe and ran into Kingston before returning to our accommodation for the evening.

– Grahak Cunningham (Australia)

Team B

It was a very relaxed team that left Mt Gambier Central Caravan Park this morning. Many thanks to Phil and Katie for such wonderful accommodation, it was very much appreciated.

We didn’t have to drive far to get to our first ceremony, which was just five minutes up the road at Blue Lake Welcome Centre.

We were greeted not only by Deputy Mayor Byron Harfield, but also by the Mayor himself, Steve Perryman, who was looking very much at ease in his running gear.

Many thanks to Gina Ploenges of Mt Gambier City Council, who also attended and did a terrific job organising wonderful receptions, a great dinner at the RSL and accommodation for us, very ably and generously it must be added!

After an introduction by our team co-ordinator Prachar Stegemann, the World Harmony Run Torch was passed from hand to hand and the team sung the World-Harmony-Run song for the assembled media and guests.

We were then invited to run the 3.5 km around Blue Lake with Steve.

Sadly, the girls’ team had to decline due to an impending engagement at Tenison Woods College, which just happened to have over twelve-hundred (very well behaved!) students ranging from grades one through to twelve. The girls’ team was joined by Veeraja Uppal and Runar Gigja for the ceremony, and we had a lot of fun talking to this lovely school about the Run, harmony, and the role it plays in the world.

After teaching the children our motto 'Harmony begins with Me!', we also discovered that Tenison Woods College has a pretty special motto of their own: 'Let your light shine'. Nice, eh? No wonder we got on so well. The team especially enjoyed running with the torch down the college’s beautiful long driveway with representatives of the school, including school captain Emily and Acting Principal Amanda Parslow. You did a great job in heels Amanda, and thanks for the gifts; they have already been put to good use. Thank you very much Tenison Woods College!

Our team then drove an hour and a half to arrive 16 km outside of the small coastal town of Robe. From there we ran to Robe Primary School, where we were greeted by Principal Chris McLay. It must be noted that while this school had less students, they were able to shout our motto just as loudly as the kids at Tenison Woods College. They asked some great questions, and we learnt that many of them are very good runners also. Some even run to school – how’s that for enthusiasm? We invited each child to hold the torch, and then they followed Chris and the rest of the team for a lap around the oval. Several of the students beat their principal, but we were sure he was just going easy on them….

Our day of ceremonies concluded pleasantly at Robe council chambers, where Mayor William Pedan and CEO Bill Hender were on hand to meet with us. We were invited to partake in a scrumptious afternoon tea catered by a local café and we of course accepted. We were happy to sing the World-Harmony-Run song for them, and the ceremony rounded off with some media shots outside the chambers with a beautiful afternoon lakeside backdrop. Then it was time for all parties to depart, and the girls’ team ran their final 20.6 km in the cool calm of the evening. Thank you again, Robe District Council!

– Julie Anderson (Australia)

Team C

Teams B and C started our day together at the glorious Blue Lake in Mount Gambier (see report above), including running a lap of the lake with the Mayor, Steve Perryman.

Our whole team was deeply moved by the hospitality extended to us by the City Council of Mount Gambier – providing for all our needs including last night's superb vegetarian meal at the RSL Club; accommodation for the entire team in comfortable cabins at the Central Caravan Park; breakfast this morning; and a warm welcome at Blue Lake, which was generously reported by WIN News and the Border Watch.

We were reluctant to depart this beautiful and welcoming city, but the distance around this continent is great, and the road ahead always beckons....

From Millicent we took the coastal road to Beachport, running through green dairy pastures and pine plantations.

The small community of Beachport – only 400 souls – accorded us an extraordinary reception at the Beachport Primary School.

Teachers told us that the students – all 25 of them – had been so excited all day about the impending visit of the World Harmony Run that they had been virtually unteachable, causing regular class plans to be abandoned.

The children prepared everything for the visit, spending cooking class this morning creating the extensive and delicious array of sweet and savoury delights which we would savour for our afternoon tea, and beautiful hand-written messages of goodwill for all the runners.

The 500-metre route leading to the school was festooned with welcoming balloons at regular intervals. Groups of children lined the course, joining our runners in relay to carry the torch into the school grounds.

Principal Paula Tsernjavski and her staff supported the children in making us feel completely at home. It seemed everyone here had a childlike heart, making us feel part of one warm family. All had a chance to hold the Torch.

The school had nominated two local citizens to receive the Torch-Bearer Award – Hazel Watson and Peter Hill. It was clear that this is a community in which the message of harmony is taken very seriously not only in word but in action.

The formal program ended with everyone singing together the 'Beachport Song'. The final chorus is resounding still in our ears and hearts:

"All call Beachport

My home

A place were you can be yourself

But not feel alone

So if you need to get away

To leave the stress behind

Here is a message

To put in your mind:

Our Beachport is waiting here for you

With lots to see and lots to do

Or if you need somewhere to do

Nothing at all

Our Beachport is waiting here for you

Our Beachport is waiting here for you

Our Beachport is waiting here for you."

We find that happy hearts give our feet wings. Following a brief circuit of the exceptional Beachport Scenic Drive, we devoured the remaining kilometres alongside the beautifully serene Lakes George, St Clair and Eliza, into our evening resting place at Robe.

– Prachar Stegemann (Australia)

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), Colm Magee (Ireland), Veeraja Uppal (Australia), Prachar Stegemann (Australia), Grahak Cunningham (Australia), Jacqui Uppal (Australia), Julie Anderson (Australia), Angela Muhs (Germany), Elke Lindner (Germany), Friederike Makowka (Switzerland), Nataliya Lehonkova (Ukraine)

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

Gallery: See more images!