Toowoomba celebrates World Peace Day with day in Civic Square on Saturday

The Civic Square will be taken over Toowoomba community groups coming together in peace and harmony.

Residents of Toowoomba and surrounds are invited to come together in the name of peace during a special celebration on the Civic Square on Saturday.

The International Day of Peace is celebrated worldwide on September 21, however, out of respect for the Carnival of Flowers celebrations, the Toowoomba Peace Committee decided to hold its day of peace on October 1 after the carnival had finished.

Supported by Pure Land Learning College, the Day of Peace was first held last year and this year will see a growth in numbers of participating groups.

“Quite a few community groups have come together to organise and run this year’s Day of Peace,” explained Peace Committee chair Dr Uma Kumar.

Preparing for Peace Day Toowoomba in the Civic Square are (back, from left) Maud Bagnall, Ray Brearley, Chair of Goodwill Committee of Toowoomba Scott McGrath, Alec Brown of Scouts, Haniff Abdul Razak of Pure Land Learning College and John Pugh of Bunya Park Scouts. (front, from left) Sruthi Gandu and Connie Qu of Toowoomba Youth Peace Group, and Dr Uma Kumar, chair of the Peace Committee. Monday, September 26, 2022. Picture: Nev Madsen.

The day will kick-off in the Civic Square between the Toowoomba Regional Council offices and the Library from 10.30am with music from the Yakety Saxes Band.

A Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony will follow 11am with the Yakety Saxes Band closing out the day’s activities at about 2pm.

Community groups involved include Pure Land Learning College, Toowoomba Regional Council, Lions International, Bunya Park Scouts, TIMS (Toowoomba International Multicultural Society), Goodwill Committee Toowoomba, NDIS, UNAA, heartfulness and TYP. G (Toowoomba Youth Peace Group).

“There will be some speeches and we will have a sign translator on hand for those who need it,” Dr Kumar said.

Much of the day will include cultural dancing by various groups and a free sausage sizzle will operate.

Chair of the Goodwill Committee of Toowoomba Scott McGrath said Saturday will be another opportunity to bring the community together in a peaceful, enjoyable setting.

“We want to build a peaceful, harmonious community,” he said.

“Everything can prosper with peaceful communities.

“One of our main things is social inclusion and we want to make everyone feel they are a part of the community.”

The Toowoomba Peace Community has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Nations which will be represented at Peace Day on Saturday.