Harmony Day, a day dedicated to recognising Australia's cultural diversity, set the perfect backdrop for the unveiling of Radford's new Rotary Peace Pole - a global symbol of unity and peace.

Installed among the roses in Radford's Turning Circle, a special ceremony brought together students, staff and the local community to celebrate diversity and reaffirm the importance of peace.

Radford College's Senior Chaplain, Rev. Dr Katherine Rainger, said the Peace Pole reaffirms "our commitment to peace locally and globally, and especially in our relationship with each other and in our community".

A highlight of the ceremony was the presence of Mr Michael Rabey, the Founding Director of the Canberra Rotary Peace Bell, who read the latest peace message from the Secretary-General of the United Nations. His words resonated with the spirit of the event, as the Peace Pole serves as a reminder and call for peace worldwide.

Principal Mr Christopher Bradbury shared the significance of peace at Radford: "As an Anglican school, working for peace and justice is something that we strive to do, along with members of the Anglican community globally. Challenging violence and oppression, and working for justice, peace and reconciliation, is one of the marks of mission of the global Anglican church."

Acting Deputy Principal and Head of Secondary School, Mrs Louise Wallace-Richards, who helped coordinate the project with Mrs Ali Dunn, Secondary School Administrator, shared the significance of the languages inscribed on Radford’s Peace Pole.

"This Peace Pole is a monument that displays the message 'May peace prevail on Earth' in the language of the country where it is placed, as well as additional languages meaningful to the host site," she explained. "For Radford, we have chosen the languages we learn - Spanish, Japanese, Chinese and French - as well as English and the Ngunnawal language. The message is an affirmation of peace, and its placement furthers Rotary's goal of building a culture of peace throughout the world."

The Peace Pole project is part of a broader effort by the Rotary Club of Canberra Burley Griffin to mark the Centenary of Rotary in Australia. In 2021, the club set a goal to donate 100 Peace Poles to 100 schools.

The Peace Pole program was established in 1955 by Masahisa Goi, founder of the World Peace Prayer Society, following the devastation of the Second World War. Today, more than 250,000 Peace Poles can be found in approximately 200 countries, symbolising the collective desire for a peaceful world.

The ceremony concluded with a heartfelt reading of the Peace Pole's inscriptions. The messages, translated into Chinese, French, Japanese, Spanish and Ngunnawal, echoed the universal call for peace:

• English: May peace prevail on Earth (Heer Vunnam, Year 6).
• Chinese (Mandarin): Yuàn hépíng zài dìqiú shàng shèngxíng (Tahlia Hunt, Year 12).
• French: Puisse la paix régner dans le monde (Emma Osborne-Laverty, Year 12).
• Japanese: Chikyuu ni heiwa ga otozure masu you ni (Nandhitha Gopalakrishnan, Year 11).
• Spanish: Que la paz prevalezca en la tierra (Elsa Casey, Year 6).
• Ngunnawal: Yhurranuulun yhurwun ngunna dhara (Dreaming strong on Ngunnawal land, Dr. Katherine Rainger).

The installation of this symbolic monument is a reminder for all of us to act and think in the spirit of peace.