The 2009 National Walk for Values in Perth
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 Perth.
This year in Perth the National Walk for Values was lead by a group of year 4/5 students of Christchurch Grammar School, their teacher, headmaster and some parents. The boys were wearing some specially created orange "values hats" made in their art classes as part of the lead-up to the Walk. They also performed a dance at the assembly prior to the Walk as a promotion for the Human Values and the Walk.
At the Walk start the students performed some circus items - clowning and juggling to contribute to the festivity. They met up with old boy Mr Kerry Harmanis who officially opened the Walk, joined them at the front of the parade, then gave a speech in Forrest Chase.
The SAMBINASTAS participating in the Walk for Values
Approximately 200 people began the Walk from the Perth Esplanade, through the busy shopping malls, to the drumming of the Sambanistas and the Wongai African drumming group. When we entered Forrest Chase there were around 400 people in the procession as onlookers joined in.
Several thousand flyers were distributed to bystanders along the way who were keen to see what the procession represented. Many waved, cheered and took photographs.
When the walk arrived at Forrest Chase, the MC, Helen Martino-Bailey presented an overview of why the walk was being put on:
Today we come together in joy to honour, celebrate and acknowledge the essential qualities that bring out the best in us: The Values.
Values such as Truth, Right Conduct, Love, Peace and Non-violence - when taken to heart, these qualities bring out our inherent goodness. They help us to become compassionate and loving; they inspire us to make a difference to other people's lives. They drive us towards human excellence.
Their positive effects are life-enhancing and that is why people across Australia, join together this weekend, in support of The Values that are so necessary in our world today.
And as we come together we affirm that each one of us can make a difference to this world; we can take steps towards creating a better future for all.
What better gift can we give our children than to model our lives on The Values?
At Forrest Chase the drummers continued their rhythm until everyone assembled, then the Walk Music team gave a vibrant rendition of "Walk a Mile" the Perth walk theme song.
This was followed by the Welcome to Country by a Noongar elder of the Derbal Yerrigan (Swan River), Mrs. MINGILI WANJURRI-McGLADE.
GUEST SPEAKER INTRODUCTION
Our guest speaker today is a great example of someone who holds The Values very close to his heart. Australian born of Greek descent, a lawyer by profession - Mr. Kerry Harmanis was the founder and manager of Jubilee Mines from 1987-2007. Having spent a great deal of his life on a path of self-awareness, inner enquiry, in1996 Kerry made the unique decision to apply values based principles to the management of his business. This decision transformed his company and it became one of Australia's most successful and profitable nickel mining companies.
Now retired, Kerry spends time helping to financially support charities. He keeps active through paddle boarding and surfing; meditation plays a major role in his life.
Mr Kerry Harmanis then gave an inspiring talk on his experience of basing his highly successful company Jubilee Mines on the five Human Values. He described how his life and his business changed once he started transforming through his commitment to a spiritual life and practising the values he learned through this.
He urged us all to realize that our world is in a fragile state, with difficult times ahead, and that the way through this is in opening our hearts, finding a path of transformation and each person taking responsibility to make the world a better place, through living a value-based life.
Read a summary of the talk given by Kerry Harmanis, along with the poem from Kabir, Friend, hope for the Guest.
Following Kerry's talk the Walk Music team sang "Together", reinforcing the message that together we will make a difference.
After the vote of thanks, the Walk concluded with another version of "Walk a Mile" with all of us joining in the chorus. It was hard to resist humming the catchy tune as we made our way home.
Media Coverage
The Perth National Walk for Values was covered in The West Australian Newspaper, on Monday, 30 March 2009. You can view this newspaper coverage. (Opens in new window, 527KB)
Web Album online
The Third National Walk for Values in Perth was a truly memorable day. You may view a web album with photographs from the occasion.
©National Walk for Values. This site last updated 8 April 2009
Privacy