Thanks to the efforts of Club Foundation Director Joanne Shentu and Youth Service Director Chris Raw, the Rotary Club of Glenferrie will mark Rotary’s global
commitment to peace and understanding with the installation of a Peace Pole at Loreto Mandeville Hall, Toorak, this September — as part of a ceremony to mark the International Day of Peace on September 21st.
The Peace Pole will serve as a permanent symbol of hope and harmony within the school community and beyond — a quiet yet powerful reminder of the importance of peace in our daily lives and the shared future we all contribute to.
But what exactly is a Peace Pole?
Peace Poles are part of a global grassroots project that began in Japan in 1955 following the devastation of World War II. Each pole bears the message "May Peace Prevail on Earth" in several languages — a multilingual reminder that peace transcends borders, cultures, and beliefs. Since then, more than 250,000 Peace Poles have been planted in nearly every country on earth, standing outside schools, government buildings, parks, and places of worship.
The installation at Loreto Mandeville Hall represents a meaningful collaboration between the Rotary Club of Glenferrie and the school — both organisations recognising the importance of instilling values of tolerance, compassion and global citizenship in young people.
This is more than just a monument, it’s a conversation starter, a teaching tool, and a visual commitment to peace. The Rotary Club of Glenferrie is proud to partner with Loreto to share that message with the next generation.
The exact date of the installation will be confirmed in the coming weeks, with a small ceremony planned to mark the occasion. Members of the Rotary Club of Glenferrie and partners, Loreto’s student leadership, school representatives and local community leaders will be in attendance.
Stay tuned for further details — and in the meantime, in these challenging times globally, may peace prevail on Earth.