World Peace Day in Cowra
World Peace Day is celebrated annually in Cowra each September, to coincide with the United Nations International Day of Peace. Activities include an annual youth peace forum, youth peace awards, public speaking competitions and the annual Peace Day dinner held in conjunction with Cowra Rotary and featuring a guest speaker.
Peace Day in Cowra will be celebrated this year on Thursday 19th September 2024.
The Cowra Youth Peace Forum will be held at the Cowra Civic Centre on Thursday 19th September from 9.15am to 2.45pm. Contact the Cowra Community Development Team for more details on 6340 2086 or email: communityprojects@cowra.nsw.gov.au.
The Rotary Club of Cowra World Peace Day Dinner will be held at Club Cowra on Thursday 19th September at 6am with special guest speaker and former Socceroo Captain, Craig Foster AM. Tickets are $40 and can be purchased from Club Cowra.
Australia's World Peace Bell
There are currently 21 peace bells located around the world. The Australian World Peace Bell was awarded to Cowra in 1992 and is crafted from melted down coins donated by 65 members of the United Nations. It is a replica of the original bell located at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. Over 100 members of the United Nations now donate coins to the World Peace Bell Association.
National Peace Bells are usually placed in capital cities, but Cowra was chosen as Australia’s location by the World Peace Bell Association due to its strong relationship with Japan and the town’s commitment to world peace.
The Peace Bell’s journey to Cowra began with the formation of the Australian Chapter of the World Peace Bell Association in 1989, followed by a large community meeting to organise the arrival of the bell and a pavilion to house it. The pavilion was designed by local architects Design West and built by local builder, Guy Hubbard. Local community members decorated the tiles that form the base of the Pavilion.
The Bell’s presence in Cowra is a reminder of the journey from conflict to peace. It stands as a beacon of hope, inspiring future generations to uphold the values of unity and harmony.