Trans-Tasman Capers
Two weeks have
been spent beyond my home, the Land of the Long White Shroud. More specifically
I have been in Australia. Principal purpose was to attend the unveiling of the
Canberra Rotary Peace Bell on February 23. I had been in contact for some time
with Mr. Canberra Peace Bell, Michael Rabey. Four years ago he and his wife
Joan took the Christchurch city tram to the Botanic Gardens stop and went for a
wander. They came across our world Peace Bell and thought what a great thing it
was. Could they have one in their own city? Four years later, after much
fundraising, it has been unveiled in an idyllic lakeside location in Canberra’s
Nara Peace Park. Nara is the Japanese sister city of Canberra.
Michael and Joan
kindly hosted my Canberra visit. My sole additional task was to front up with a
lunchtime talk for the Burley Griffen Rotary Club. Subject was the Rebuild of
Christchurch and a spiel about how the World Peace Bell came to be in
Christchurch. I took a pin drive of images and the event went down well. I owe
the greater part of the success to the glass of wine with my gorgeous lunch.
Michael was
delighted to learn that my inspiration for the New Zealand World Peace Bell was
from a visit to Cowra to attend the annual Cherry Blossom festival. There, I
had discovered the Australian World Peace Bell and heard the story of the first
WPB being presented by Chiyoji Nakagawa to the newly established UN in 1954.
``What happened to
my country in WW 2 should never happen to any other country,’’ was Nakagawa’s
message. He was referring to the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
My thinking was
Nakagawa was a brave man. At the time he was mayor of a Shikoku city. I then
thought of New Zealand’s former Prime Minister, David Lange, introducing our
strict anti-nuclear policy in 1987. Also a brave man.
So I went about
negotiating for a New Zealand World Peace Bell, eventually unveiled in
Christchurch Botanic Gardens on October 3, 2006.
Michael and I
agreed to gamefully promote the lucky trans-Tasman visits that led to Peace
Bells in Christchurch and Canberra.
I met some great
people in Canberra. The bell housing is based on the shape of a Japanese fan. The
architect, Frank Kasparek, told me his efforts were inspired by the design of
the World Peace Bell in Christchurch.
At the unveiling
commenced with an intriguing Aboriginal Smoking Ceremony. It told us wisely
about our relationships with the land. I
was also delighted to meet Bill West, Mayor of Cowra, and Katsumi Sato,
International Director of the World Peace Bell Association in Tokyo.
Incidentally, the day before the unveiling (February 22) Michael Rabey set
up the bell for me. Once the striker was in place I was invited to ring the
bell. I looked at my watch. It was 10.47 am.
I suggested I wait
four minutes. I then rang the Canberra bell. It was 12.51 pm (New Zealand
time.) The exact moment the bell in Christchurch was being rung to commemorate
seven years since the disastrous Canterbury earthquakes.
My next stop was
Adelaide where my mate, John Berry, gave me a great day concluding with a visit
to the Parade of Light where selected inner city buildings became impromptu screens
for creative projected imagery. So very impressive.
Next afternoon I
took a flight west to Perth to catch up with family, including my son Michael,
wife Tiffany, and four grandchildren. I also completed the purchase of a new bicycle,
a Giant Expressway 1 (folding bike). I
managed 80 km mostly on the city’s brilliantly- extensive separated cycleways.
One ride was joined by 7-year-old grandson, Cooper. He comfortably managed 12
km and learned a bike ride with granddad included a coffee stop.
Returned home on
the Air NZ seasonal direct flight from Perth aboard the B787-9 also known as
the Dreamliner.
For me Dreamliner
has associations with Australian indigenous people.
Pleased to be
safely home I, am feeling grateful for another, albeit brief, inspiring travel
experience.
