The Peace Team at the Rotary Club of Wyndham Harbour presented the club’s Peace Essay Project at the Peace Park in the ‘House of Friendship’ at the Rotary International Convention at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. The project is a Peace Essay competition run annually for primary school-aged children (Grades/Years 5 and 6), to gauge what young children of think about peace issues, including internal peace and how to attain it, external peace and what it means, how conflicts arise and what can be done to overcome them.
Winning essays from the past three years were read out. Here are some excerpts from the essays:
Heili Perera, Grade 5, Cambridge Primary School, Vic. 
“In my understanding, the meaning of peace is to live without worry, fear or burden. To be peaceful, a person has to first find the calmness, harmony and true freedom from within. The peace is not only a personal aspect but also drives beyond yourself, your home, the community and to the greater world. A peaceful person makes a positive impact to his or her family and friends. When more and more people appreciate there are different cultures, religions, races, languages, ways of living, values and ideas then the society becomes a better place for everyone.”
Kingsley Ying, Grade 5, Westbourne Primary, Truganina, Vic.
“Australia is a vivacious, multicultural country. Cultural diversity is not only one of our greatest strengths, but also central to our national identity… Equality and mutual respect for all people are the basic norms for maintaining peace in our Australian society. It is a true saying that we must be the change we wish to see in the world. Therefore, I will start with myself first, and then I will encourage the people around me to do the same.”
Prince Patel, Grade 5, St. Mary’s Parish School, Hay, NSW (After small, regional community in Hay, Australia, rallied to prevent a boy’s father from being sent back to his country of origin). 
“Everyone was so happy that my dad came back…If the community (had) not helped, my family and I wouldn’t have (had) our dad back. If not one was friendly in the Hay community, my dad wouldn’t be in Hay right now My family and I are so happy because my dad is with us. I was so grateful (that) my dad (came) home. Thank you for reading my text and (now) you must know what the Hay community is like.”
The presentation was well-received and the children's essays were enjoyed by all!