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THE FIFTH ROYCE ABBEY PEACE ORATION
Past President Anne Rogers
Distinguished guests, Ladies, and Gentlemen,
It is a pleasure to be visiting wagga wagga, for the very first time, and I thank you for your warm
welcome, and kind hospitality.
For many reasons, I am genuinely honoured, and more than a little daunted to be delivering today's fifth
Royce Abbey Peace oration. Those who know me, know I don't mind a chat, and I've made enough
speeches to groups large and small, to be reasonably proficient however, orator I definitely am not!
When I noted the eminence of my four predecessors I frankly froze! My thoughts then turned to the
late Royce Abbey who was a mentor, friend, Rotary colleague, and icon and of course the namesake of
the Royce Abbey Peace Oration. Whilst this was with a degree of comfort, it also underscored the
enormity of the truly daunting task at hand.
But I have never been one to dodge a challenge. I set about to compose and deliver my very best work,
in honour of Royce, the District 9700 peace communities programme, and all of you here today who
have kindly come along to listen.
Like many of you, as a child of the 50s, I am old enough to have a vague notion of the Korean war, and
a clear recall of the Vietnam conflict. However I came along well after the end of World War II - in
Peaceful times. I make that point just to illustrate that, in those days, Peace (aside from your Mother
asking for some, usually accompanied by 'Quiet'!), was simply what came after war: if indeed you were
unlucky enough to experience the latter. In fact in one of life's great dichotomies, the peace we
enioyed circa 1950, came as it usually does, as a result of war, or conflict. The concept of any other
kind of Peace - for example the Inner Peace we aspire to today, in conflict-free Australia, - was simply
not on our radar.
I do recall in my younger years hearing the phrase "peace for our Time": much quoted from a speech
by Britain's Neville Chamberlain, (ironically, delivered in 1938, barely a year before World War II began).
There were many references to Peace in the pop music we enjoyed, but generally, peace in the so's
remained a fairly vague notion, although one which seemed entirely achievable. Except for some distant
pockets of conflict, for example the Congo, in deepest darkest Africa, the world (as we knew it) was free
of war.
Then, along came a new kind of war: one which didn't have Peace as the winner's prize - the Cold War.
I vividly recall being quite afraid of Russia during the late 50s, the 60s and early 70s. Robert Menzies'
reference to "Reds Under the Beds" underscored our national fear of Communism, and this was apt,
considering most of my fear manifested itself in bed at night.
While the notion of a World War is quite fanciful now, there are many places in the world which have not
known Peace in generations. Gaza is one, parts of Burma another, several spots in Africa, Pakistan, and
so on. What are the deeper social effects of this? What happens when you have entire generations
who have never known peace in their time? What do these people think when they see media coverage
of the annual Nobel Peace Prize? Indeed what do we think and do we care? If those from war torn
regions have the fortune to leave that environment - break those shackles, do they come to their new
communities with a desire to live peacefully, or do they bring with them the defensiveness and
preparedness to fight, inculcated since birth?
Clearly, Peace means different things to different people. I guarantee that Peace has a very different
literal meaning for say, a refugee from a war torn nation, compared with a Generation Y Australian, for
whom it is the vaguest of notions - more closely related to Mum pressuring for a clean room. rather than
war in the streets. I remember my mother sometimes saying "Peace Perfect Peace" when the house
was quiet, and I do exactly that myself. To most of us here today, I suspect Peace may indeed just
mean a lie in on a Sunday in an empty house. But to others it's a long held dream in times of war, and
to be a little flippant, it seems to be the dream of every Miss world contestant. Peace in our personal
environments is possibly encapsulated in Buddhist beliefs; the words of the Dalai Lama, the search for
Inner Peace, or if we are Catholic, the words 'Peace Be With You', every Sunday'
What does peace mean to the multitudes of first world citizens who have known nothing else but Peace
in their lives? To those in that group who do not bother with world news, reading, nor travel, Peace
probably just means the kids taking a break from fighting, the wife from nagging' and the husband
enjoying a nap on the verandah! what an opportunity for Rotary and ourselves as active members -
more of that later.
Just as the mechanics of war and conflict have changed so has the complexion of Peace and Peacekeeping.
It is now 21 years since the Rotary District Peace communities program was first proposed here in Wagga
Wagga, and in demonstrable proof that "Peace is Possible". no fewer than 60 communities in 16 countries
world-wide, have since taken up the baton passed to them, to formulate their own respective Peace
communities. Countless local projects have been created, changing lives, and creating opportunities at
grass roots level, in ways which would otherwise not have existed'
The conferring of Rotary Special Ambassadors for Peace and Rotary Peace Scholarships have added
another dimension to the important avenue of International service, and over the years, presentations
and discussions at Rotary District Peace Communities' conferences have illuminated the notion that we'
through Rotary and our Community foothold, can make a meaningful contribution to a world without
conflict.
Indeed the Rotary Peace Fellowship Programme, founded in 2002, sponsors University training in conflict
resolution, on completion of which, graduates are strategically placed in locations throughout the
world. They are found in such entities as the World Bank, working with Refugee Agencies, or in Peacekeeplng
organisations involved in financial, humanitarian, and security operations, wherever there is
conflict. There are currently in excess of 300 Rotary Peace Fellows, actively working for Peace,
wherever their presence can, and will, make a difference. How many Rotarians are fully aware of this
I wonder?
Each incoming Rotary International President selects a theme as a focus for Rotarians for the year
ahead. On occasion these have been directly related to Peace: President Sakuji Tanaka's 2012/13
Presidential theme was "Peace Through Service". President Gary Huang's theme this year, "Light up
Rotary" is equally topical when applied to the urgent need for a world without conflict. The opportunity
we have as Rotarians is to "light up" Rotary's contribution to reconciliation and world peace.
We must begin by ensuring, at club level, that all Rotarians are aware of, and adopt the concept of the
Rotary Peace Fellowship and its work. Now, more than ever, we must increase our "peace Footprint"
as it were. and what better way to do this than to embrace and create a Peace Community and build on
the 60 or so which currently exist. Is it possible for the Peace Communities Program with aid and
funding from District 9700, to orchestrate a national awareness campaign and distribution of the
comprehensive Peace Communities Formation kit? Many of our Clubs, my own included, actively support
such Rotary sponsored initiatives as M.U.N.A. (the Model United National Assemblies), which is designed
to involve youth in a process directly benefiting international understanding. Similarly, our international
aid programs such as R.O.M.A.C (Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children) and even our International
Youth Exchange Programs, further international understanding and, by extension, Peace. But for most
Clubs, that is the extent of it.
"Peace Matters" are presently encompassed in International our Fourth of Five Avenues of Service.
Perhaps it is time we had a Sixth Avenue of Service: one dedicated solely to Peace and Reconciliation
initiatives, both at Community and International levels, with future Rotary International Presidents and
Rotarians at all levels below, seriously confronting conflict, and together striving for Peace. with many
more active Peace Communities as a result.
The District 9700 Peace Communities' credo speaks of Respect: in the context of life and dignity for all
mankind, of Rejection: in the t context of violence in all its forms, of Conflict Resolution: within global
and local communities, of Reconciliation, and of Freedom: in terms of expression and cultural
diversity. These represent the most altruistic of principles, and completely align with our
aims and desires as committed Rotarians. When embodied within our Community Service, they become
local pathways to peace: locally, and internationally.
Our 1.2 million or so members, in over 34,000 clubs, in 530 districts, in 215 countries around the
world, are all actively making a positive difference in the lives of others. Our countless projects and
activities continually improve the lives of those in need, with all manner of support ranging from simple
fund-raising, and sponsored social activities, to disaster relief, and ambitious major funding projects, not
to mention the world's greatest charity our own powerful Rotary Foundation with, among others, the
entirely achievable aim of eradicating Polio worldwide. We are "big, safe and friendly". We are
supremely organised, and our District and Club structure means we can act quickly and
effectively. Above all, we are motivated only by altruism, imbued in our wonderful Rotary motto "Service
Above Self'. We could, and should, be the envy of the United Nations! I believe we have potential to
be the ready-made, true peacemakers of the world.
On that note, what of the United Nations? Its Mission Statement is easy to find from a Google search,
and well worth a read. Is it moribund? I fear it may be. I visit New York often, and have toured UN
Headquarters a number of times. Aside from the complex being utterly "frozen" in the 50s, it is
extremely thought provoking, if only because of its quite bizarre position as neutral territory right in
Manhattan, That alone makes it easy to see why some Middle Eastern and Central Asian nations are
less than enthusiastic participants. But then you have the completely "crazy" situation where as recently
as 2010, the United States' UN dues were $1.2 billion in arrears - since reduced to a mere $700 million
or so, but what kind of organisation allows that to happen?
I wonder what a contemporary UN would look like, if it were to come into being now. Would that even
be possible? Just as war and conflict have gone hi-tech, could it be that Peace has as well, and the
United Nations in its current time-warp has been well and truly left behind?
So, who better than us - as community based Rotarians - to do something about Peace in all its
forms. Just as charity begins at home, so does Peace, and its relativity between our local communities
and the world at large is especially topical, given the preparedness of young men from our own
neighbourhoods, to travel to theatres of conflict such as Syria, and take up arms - ostensibly against our
way of life.
Social media, with its domination by Twitter, You Tube and Facebook ensures we have "war in our
hands" as it were - no need even for a TV to keep up with what's going on - and provides us with a
confronting depth, and immediacy, of commentary. This modern phenomenon applies equally to
major distant world conflict and to the simplest neighbourhood dispute, and is probably
as great a threat to warring countries, (and simple community conflict) as heavily armed protagonists,
because the entire world gets to know what's really happening in the trenches, before the propagandists,
and spin doctors can say the words "Press Release". But just as surely as it disseminates conflict updates,
there is equally a role for social media In the perpetuation of Peace and harmony, and there are many
examples of its power in that regard. Again, who better than Rotary to tackle Peace, harmony and
reconciliation from our bed-rock position in our local communities and our worldwide reach' Imagine if
every tribe in every village across the world, had that simple objective, or assistance to achieve it. If it
worked, it would be enough.
In February this year, Royce Abbey passed away after a long and distinguished life, latterly dominated
by Rotary, where his extremely active participation was at the highest level. Very well known and
celebrated as a friend to many, his presence is greatly missed. Just as Royce was a man of action, he
was equally a man of Peace - a war hero, no less. I know that his participation in the inauguratlon of
Wagga Wagga as the world's first Rotary Peace City meant much to him. I also know he would be utterly
delighted to learn of my participation here today, and I am humbled to deliver this address in his
honour. More than anything, he would be proud and happy to know that this wonderful initiative,
already achieving so much, will continue (in its sure-footed fashion) to succeed on the world stage where
sadly, our Governments so often falter.
Peace in all its forms, is the one condition welcomed by everyone, anywhere. There is no downside to
Peace and harmony, and even those who perpetrate war and have known nothing but conflict in their
lives, would relish the opportunity to live in Peace. There is no entity better placed than Rotary to
"take up arms" of a very different kind, and work meaningfully to make Peace and reconciliation a reality
in our communities, and by extension, worldwide.
In closing I share with you a slogan I saw just last week: ANYTHING WAR CAN DO PEACE CAN DO
BETTER,
Thank you.
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