Rotary Peace Pole: A reminder to strive for world peace

HAVE you seen the new Rotary Peace Pole outside the Brolga Theatre in the Queensland city of Maryborough yet? It’s a beautiful sight.

The pole, consisting of three elements, is a hand-crafted monument that displays the message “May Peace Prevail on Earth” on each of its sides in different languages.

There are tens of thousands of Peace Poles in 180 countries across the world, dedicated as monuments to peace. They serve as a constant visual reminder to strive for world peace.

The project was unveiled recently in a dedication ceremony where it’s installed beside the pathway leading to the Brolga Theatre from Lennox Street.

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Peace Pole designed by local artists; supported by Council

The Maryborough Peace Pole, a project of the Rotary Club of Maryborough Sunrise, was designed by local artist and Rotarian Willy Paes (pictured with his wife Di) with assistance from Fraser Coast Regional Council senior arts development co-ordinator Trevor Spohr.

The project was supported by many local businesses, other Rotary Clubs through a Rotary Grant, and the Fraser Coast Regional Council through a grant from the discretionary fund of Councillor Daniel Sanderson.

The work consists of three distinct pieces, which unite as one to symbolise our need to move forward together.

The pieces range in height up to five metres high and have been placed in a stepped design to mirror the roofline of the Brolga Theatre.

One pole is made from weathered steel that was left over from the Gallipoli to Armistice Memorial in nearby Queens Park.

Steel laser-cut message in multiple languages

Rotary Club of Maryborough Sunrise acting president Adrian Pitman said the Maryborough RSL Club donated the steel, which was laser-cut with ‘May Peace Prevail on Earth’ in multiple languages, including the Butchulla language, English, Japanese and Mandarin.

The languages reflect the immigrants who entered Australia through the Port of Maryborough and our sister-city relationships; the piece represents the steel buildings of the former Wilson and Hart Sawmill, which occupied the site before the Brolga Theatre was built and the city’s manufacturing industry.

Mr Pitman said the carved timber log, which was rescued from the bank of the Mary River near Tiaro, had been carved by Willy Paes with local flora and fauna to connect with the Mary River, forests and animals and birds of the region.

This piece represents the Timber City and the timber industry on which Maryborough was founded.

On the third pole, a steel column has been inset with glass art designed by indigenous artists Aaron Henderson and Samala Cronin, depicting local history and creatures of the Dreamtime and the environment.

Rotary advocates for international peace

“One of the six areas of focus for Rotary internationally is peace and conflict prevention and resolution,” Mr Pitman said.

“Through service projects, peace fellowships, and scholarships, Rotarians are taking action to address the underlying causes of conflict, including poverty, inequality, ethnic tension, lack of access to education, and unequal distribution of resources.

“Clubs support peace in a myriad of ways, from raising awareness of bullying, to helping to protect domestic violence survivors and their families.”

Each year, Rotary offers 100 fellowships to Rotary Peace Centres around the world, including one at the University of Queensland.

More than 1000 students have graduated from Rotary’s Peace Centres programs.