National Walk for Values in Brisbane
On Saturday, 28 March 2009, National Walks for Values were conducted in Capital Cities right across the Nation. Walkers carried banners, placards, balloons, brochures and handouts in Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne and Adelaide and on Sunday 29 March 2009, the National Walk for Values took place in Perth. Here is the pictorial narrative National Walk for Values in Brisbane.
The 2009 National Walk for Values in Brisbane
The Brisbane NWV09 kicked off well before 9am with a very positive vibe and festival atmosphere. The banners on the values, the amazing youth costumes, the colorful balloons and the music made it a very vibrant start for the 2009 Walk.
There were stations set up for Face Painting, for Games and Yoga, for Registration, Information and Merchandise. Our Mascots and the 5 Ninjas of Peace, Love, Right Conduct, Non Violence and Truth mingled with the participants as they arrived. Many faces were painted and colorful balloons and umbrellas were handed out creating a fun and festive atmosphere. Walk Participants were entertained with some uplifting and modern values songs whilst the Gypsy percussion band roved through the crowd doing some impromptu busking! A pre-walk 'Festival of Values' was created with music, entertainment, games, and activities for all!
At 10.15 everyone assembled for the opening ceremony where our Master of Ceremonies Venkat Reddy welcomed everyone and acknowledged the Traditional Owners of the land. The festive atmosphere was complemented by our opening speaker Councilor David Hinchcliffe who gave a wonderful talk on the values and how they were so important to his family and in young people's lives. He felt it was a privilege to be at such an event and offered his support in the future! This talk was followed with another uplifting song in which everyone joined in clapping and singing!
Ron Farmer of the Toogoolawa School on the Gold Coast gave a speech on the values and how we are bringing to the surface those higher values that are already part of our inner being. This was followed by a Gypsy Jamboree where the colorful percussion band entered from the 5 corners of the crowd rhythmically beating their drums. The 5 value ninjas joined in with a choreographed value dance and before long many of the children and participants were joining the dance! The Drummers brought this to a crescendo and everyone cheered as we assembled for the walk.
The walk commenced about 11am and proceeded over the Goodwill Bridge with the Percussion band taking centre stage and kept up the fun and energy through out the whole walk. We continued along the Boardwalk through South Bank and attracted lots of attention with the music, drums, chants, and color. Many pictures were taken of the procession and the banners by onlookers. The walk continued over Victoria Bridge where the police escorted us across William Street to Brisbane Square where again we had great exposure with lots of onlookers. The Ninjas and Mascots were kept busy handing out brochures and keeping up the fun.
The Walk finished at Queens Park where we had the closing ceremony with some uplifting comments from Ron and Sue Farmer and further positive comments from the walkers through our roving microphone. The Ninjas finished with an acrobatic display which everyone fully enjoyed. The MC ended the program with some valuable closing comments and acknowledging all those who had helped to make the day a success. Everyone then stayed back for some refreshments including some great Value Cupcakes baked by the youth.
The Walk continued over the Goodwill Bridge towards South Bank along side the Brisbane River. The path of the walk did provide a great deal of exposure and attracted a lot of attention from the people on the path. Brochures, Stickers and balloons were handed out by the mascots which were very well received. Mascots entertained and each of the five groups sang the values as they walked.
The Brisbane National Walk for Values drew attention to the five human values of Truth, Right Conduct, Love, Peace and Non-Violence. Via colourful costumes, dance, music, balloons and banners, the message of the five values was given prominence to the citizens of Brisbane - citizens at work, at rest, at play and and recreation. The 2009 Brisbane Walk for Values was an exciting and fun filled event!
Let the real Walk for Values within us Begin
Sanjeev Veloo, one of the invited performers to the Brisbane National Walk for Values, wrote an account of his experience of the Brisbane Walk. You may read Let the real Walk for Values within us Begin
View the Photo Album of the Brisbane National Walk for Values
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©National Walk for Values. This site last updated 8 April 2009
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