AS AUSTRALIAN fighter jets and special forces troops set off to join the world's war effort against Islamic State (IS) terrorists in Iraq, Wagga's Rotary Club members were told the path to peace begins at home.
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Yesterday, leading Rotarian Anne Rogers delivered a major peace presentation to local members and civic leaders for the 21st anniversary of Wagga being named the first Rotary peace city.
Since 1992, up to 60 peace cities and communities exist in the world.
Surrounded by the shade by the Rotary Peace monument, Mrs Rogers said clubs had an opportunity to continue to spread peace - and not just the absence of war.
"There is no entity better placed than Rotary to 'take up arms' of a very different kind, and work meaningfully to make peace and reconciliation a reality in our communities and by extension, worldwide," Mrs Rogers said.
"We are motivated only by altruism, inspired with our wonderful Rotary motto 'service above self'.
"We could and should be the envy of the United Nations!"
For Mrs Rogers, Rotarians had the opportunity to spread peace throughout their community by ensuring it was a focus along with the charitable endeavours, leadership and youth development and community service.
"Just as the mechanics of war and conflict have changed so has the complexion of peace and peace-keeping."
Mrs Rogers called on the Rotary clubs to ensure they supported the organisation's peace fellowship program which places people trained in conflict resolution to actively work for peace.
"Now more than ever, we must increase our 'peace footprint' and what better way to do this than to embrace and create a peace community and build on the 60 or so which currently exist."
DURING international peace day yesterday, leading Rotarian Anne Rogers delivered the fifth Royce Abbey oration beside the peace monument in Wagga.
The day marked 21 years since Wagga became the world's first peace city with Mrs Rogers talking about how Rotary can help spread peace.
"What we're doing here in Wagga is more real than what happens in New York in the United Nations," Mrs Rogers said.
She said the grassroots effort to spread peace was key to ensuring more people in the world were able to experience it.
"Just as charity begins at home, so does peace," she said.
Mrs Rogers said the growth of Rotary's "peace communities" was demonstrable proof that "peace is possible".
The concept of peace communities was developed by the Kooringal Rotary Club with district 9700 spreading the concept globally.
Mr Abbey, who died in February this year, had a hand in helping declare Wagga a peace city and unveiled the monument in 1992.
"I know that his participation in the inauguration of Wagga as the world's first Rotary Peace City meant much to him."
Mrs Rogers who said it was a humbling experience to deliver an address named after Mr Abbey who helped mentor Mrs Rogers when they were members at the Essendon Rotary Club.
"Royce was a larger-than-life character, he did everything in a big way," she said.