The Rotary Club of Melbourne is a club that for generations has made a significant legacy to Rotary and to the City of Melbourne. Our new Peace Bell installation at our Rotary Park (newly renamed as “Rotary Melbourne Peace Park”) will provide yet another significant legacy and a focal point for Peace in Melbourne.
Our park adjacent to the Royal Botanic Gardens was established in conjunction with the City of Melbourne in the 1930s and has honoured distinguished Rotarians and marked significant Rotary occasions. The installation of four peace bells is a natural and historic connection for our club - the initiator of multiple Peace Forums, an unparalleled success of nominating Peace Scholars, and our Past Club and Rotary International President Angus Mitchell who reintroduced Rotary into Germany and Japan following World War II. The Bells will be launched at the Opening Ceremony of the International Convention in May and we are expecting many international Rotarians to visit them at this time.
The fundraising target for the Peace Bells is $120,000. To date we have received significant contributions from Rotary International, Rotary District 9800 and other Victorian Rotary Districts and Clubs, in addition to some of our club members. Our club is also contributing to the project and I will be making my own personal donation. To date we have raised over $90,000 and we are now in the final straight to raise the last $30,000. I hope you will join me and other Rotarians to help us raise funds for this once in a lifetime legacy for our club and Rotary.
Attached is a flyer with more information, including banking details for direct deposit, and so you can share with others. You can also visit rotarypark.org.au and make your donation online via credit card. If you wish to make a tax deductible donation, please contact Jo Mavros in the Rotary office.
This is major milestone for our club and will be an important legacy for generations to come.
Thank you in advance for your support.
Adrian Nelson
President, Rotary Melbourne
The 4 bell installation, located adjacent to gate D of the Botanical Gardens will represent a step every person can take for peace-building being:
1) to be at peace within themselves,
2) to talk of the importance of peace for all peoples including indigenous Australians,
3) to write messages of peace and
4) to celebrate peace and International Day of Peace.
