National Walk for Values in Adelaide
On Saturday, March 24, 2007, National Walks for Values were conducted in Capital Cities right across the Nation. Walkers carried banners, placards, balloons, brochures and handouts in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. Here are the accounts of the National Walk for Values in Adelaide.
Early morning at Victoria Square, next to the fountain and right in the middle of the Central Business District of Adelaide - the walkers in the Adelaide National Walk for Values commence assembling their signs and banners.
The Walk was planned to have a big National Walk for Values banner at the start and the same one at the end on the parade. Other large banners carried the Five Human Values and these seven banners also carried value statements on the back of the banner.
Behind each values banner were people walking with small placards carrying value statements relevant to the specific value. Marshalls with special vests on each side accompanied the walkers to ensure a disciplined approach and ensure appropriate distance between walkers.
The walk was accompanied by a police car in front and 6 traffic police on motorbikes blocking the traffic at intersections. A dedicated group of 2 doctors and 2 nurses were the First Aid group and they walked wearing identifying vests.
Prior to the start of the walk Kevin Francis, Master of Ceremonies, assisted with a megaphone to get participants in the right order and then introduced Albert Barelds, National Walk for Values Coordinator, who welcomed everyone on behalf of the Sathya Sai Organisation of Australia & PNG and summarised what the Walk was about and officially announced the start of the 1st National Walk for Values in Adelaide.
The Walk Begins
At exactly 10 o'clock the Walk started with over 100 people participating. A few people from the public joined the walk after it had started. The Walk to the Rotunda in Elder Park was through the very centre of Adelaide, via King William Street and crossing Rundle Mall and North Terrace on the way passing Adelaide City Council, the General Post Office and Parliament House.
The Walk was over a distance of 1.2 kilometers and took 30 minutes to complete. The banners were big and very colorful and an appropriate distance was kept between the main banners. This resulted in a visual impact of many more than 100 people walking.
During the Walk a mascot, Yogi Bear type, and a few helpers offered onlookers copies of the National Walk for Values Brochure and stickers with the Walk logo and Walk bookmarks carrying the logo and a value statement. Many hundreds of these were given out along the route.
Many positive comments were made during the Walk by onlookers; no negativity was experienced. Initially surprised looks often changed quickly into smiles when individuals realised what we were walking for.
An older couple watching the Walk remarked, “Good for you!” and were keen to receive brochures and bookmarks. Parents were pointing out to their children what was on the banners.
Some people clapped or made supportive signs whilst driving past and hooting the horn. A few of the policemen on motor bikes asked when we were going to walk next year as they would want to join in. Tradesmen at a building site in King William St put their tools down to have a good look, wave and put the stickers with the Walk logo on their hard hats.
Numerous onlookers took photos and shot films of the Walk and some wanted to be photograhed or fimed with those walking and with the banners.
At the conclusion at Elder Park we were complimented by the senior police officer for the well behaved and disciplined approach to the walk and that it had been a pleasure for them to accompany the Walk.
Walk Program at Elder Park
The Elder Park program started with the MC, Kevin Francis, acknowledging the Kaurna People, traditional owners of the land, and inviting all to stand and join in sing the national anthem - sung by a group Sathya Sai Education students. Several talks were then given.
National Anthem
Sathya Sai Education students lead the National Anthem, Advance Australia Fair, at the rotunda at Elder Park, Adelaide, on the occasion of the Program for the National Walk for Values.
Talk by Adolescents
I am Nishant, Year 7 student. I hope you all had a good walk. We'll try to not to keep you too long from your food because, well, I'm hungry too. We are speaking today on human values and how it affects our everyday lives.
I am Sri, year 9 student. There are many human values in our world which enrich our lives. The ones we have chosen to focus on today are love, truth, peace, right conduct and non violence. Firstly why are these values called human values? This is because they do not belong to one group, religion, faith, class or race of people; they belong to all humanity. Read more of the talk by the adolescents.
Talk by Palliative Care Nurse ~ Psychotherapist
My name is Janine Barelds and I speak today as a clinical nurse in palliative care. I am working for the Royal District Nursing Service and also as a psychotherapist in private practice.
Today I speak to you more so as a fellow traveller as we all journey through life.
Why are we all looking for examples, mentors or role models all through our lives? Because we are often unsure of our own innate ability to guide ourselves. Our life journey can at times seem more of an obstacle course, can't it? Read more of the talk given by Janine Barelds.
Talk by Medical Student
Some time ago, at the Seattle Olympics, there were nine athletes, all off whom were mentally or physically challenged, standing on the start line for the 100 metres race. The gun fired and the race began.
They ran in threes, a boy tripped and fell and started crying. The other 8 heard him crying. They slowed down and looked behind them. They stopped and came back ... All of them.
A girl with Downs Syndrome sat down next to him, hugged him and asked. "Feeling better now?" Then, all nine walked shoulder to shoulder to the finish line.
The whole crowd stood up and applauded. And the applause lasted a very long time ... read more of this talk
Following a vote of thanks by the MC, the after Walk program was finalised by 11.30 AM with the song 'I believe in Love' by Omkar Nagesh, accompanied by Tom Lahey on guitar.
All participants received a bottle of water and a small paperbag with Walk logo on it and various nibbles, sticker and bookmark inside.
The First National Walk for Values in Adelaide was over. You may view a web album with photographs from the Adelaide Walk.
©National Walk for Values. This site last updated 8 April 2009
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