The Human Rights Torch Relay around Australia

On the 27th of October 2007, the Global Human Rights Torch Relay was passed from Europe to Australia. The flame of Human Rights that was ignited in Athens travelled through more than 80 cities in five states and the Northern Territory in Australia. In its journey over more than 10,000 kilometers, the Human Rights Torch spread the message that “The Olympics and Crimes Against Humanity Cannot Co-exist” to millions of people in cities and the countryside. The campaign has also placed the Chinese Communist regime’s crime of live organ harvesting of Falun Gong practitioners, in the world spotlight.

On October 27th, Sydney, Australia’s most populous city, became the first stop of the Human Rights Torch in the southern hemisphere. In one day, the Human Rights Torch travelled from the Town Hall to Circular Quay next to Sydney’s Opera House, moving on to the renowned seaside city of Manly.

During early morning, the Human Rights Torch welcoming ceremony was held at Sydney’s Town Hall.

Representatives from the Indigenous community and president of the Multicultural Council Dr Dominic received the Torch on behalf of the Australian people with acknowledgment for the Aboriginal owners of the land.

Senator Kerry Nettle, Australian Human Rights Commissioner Dr Sev Ozdowski, former Chinese diplomat Chen Yonglin, and representatives from the Vietnamese, Burmese, Tibetan, and Sydney’s local communities attended the welcome ceremony. Supporters paraded with the Human Rights Torch through Sydney’s central city along the busiest road, George Street, to Circular Quay next to the Opera House.

Former member of the Australia swimming relay team in the Tokyo Olympics in 1964, Jan Becker, carried the torch as a Human Rights Torch Ambassador.

The Torch boarded a boat beside Sydney’s Opera House, moving on to Sydney’s renowned tourist attraction Manly Beach. On this same day, Manly’s City Council passed a unanimous resolution to support the Human Rights Torch Relay incorporating the activities as part of Manly’s Human Rights Week, thus calling for the participation of all local residents.

After the Human Rights Torch left the city of Sydney, Queensland was the next stop, one thousand kilometers away. Here the Torch was relayed through many cities, including Toowoomba, Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast, Mackay, Townsville, Cairns and back to the Gold Coast.

In Brisbane, the capital city of Queensland, the Human Rights Torch was warmly received by hundreds of residents. Indooroopilly’s state MP Mr Ronan Lee, also exposed the Chinese Communist regime’s attempts to interfere with the Human Rights Torch Relay. Queensland Liberal MP Steve Dickson also expressed his surprise at the actions of the Chinese consulate. At a later date, Australia’s ABC radio broadcast a special documentary on this matter.
ABC Program link

ABC reported that when the Human Rights Torch arrived in Queensland, the Chinese Consulate issued a fax to all State MPs. Labor MP Ronan Lee felt the actions were “ridiculous.”
The first torch bearer at the Gold Coast leg of the relay was the 1964 Olympic Games bronze medal long distance runner and incumbent Gold Coast Mayor Ron Clark MBE. Other participants in the torch relay were two city councillors, a state MP, and environmental, human rights and multicultural organisation representatives.

Ayers Rock- Uluru - the heart of Australia is both magnificent and mysterious, and along with the Sydney Opera House, it’s known as one of Australia’s icons. Welcoming the arrival of the Human Rights torch was the blessing of local indigenous elders and senators.

After Ayer’s Rock, the Human Rights Torch arrived in Melbourne, the second largest city in Australia, also known as the cultural capital of Australia. Senator Fraser Brindley, Victorian parliamentarians Kirstie Marshall and Jenny Mikakos received the Human Rights Torch on behalf of the Victorian people.

One tall man stood out during the parade. He is a former Chinese national basketball player Chen Kai who especially came from Los Angeles to join the Melbourne leg of the Human Rights Torch Relay. He hopes to awaken the conscience of more people, particularly fellow basketballer Yao Ming to choose freedom and refuse to carry the flag for the CCP during the 2008 Olympic Games.

Chen Kai says that “I hope Yao Ming can refuse to carry the blood flag of the CCP during the Olympics.”

After South Australia, the torch travelled over 4000 kilometres from the East Coast across Australia to Perth, the capital city of Western Australia and then back to the capital of Australia, Canberra. Many government officials, NGO officials and organisation representatives attended the welcoming ceremony for the Human Rights Torch.

Gisborne Catholic Priest Peter Pear who was the torch bearer for the Canberra leg of the Olympic Torch Relay during the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games said: “What we are now doing cannot be done in China, so we must do it with everything we’ve got.”

Coming to Australia, the Global Human Rights Torch Relay began in NSW and after travelling to over 80 cities and towns around the country the Torch returned to NSW on December 12. On December 15 after the Torch reached Newcastle, it continued on to the final stop in Australia, Terrigal, and from here the Torch began its journey to the next stop – New Zealand.

During October 27 and December 15, the Global Human Rights Torch travelled over 10,000 kilometers to over 80 cities and township throughout Australia. Wherever it went, it attracted interest from local residents and mainstream media. It moved the compassionate and honest hearts of politicians, human rights activists, sportspeople plus many different segments of society including school children. The Torch Relay prompted people to consider the human rights atrocities that are still happening in China and the impact this has on the Australia people and the entire world.

Australia Torch Relay Route:

Newcastle
Date/Time: Saturday, Dec 15 , 11:00 am
Location/Event: Town Hall
Contact: Geoff 0403 757 145

Terrigal
Date/Time: Saturday, Dec 15 , 3:00 pm
Location/Event: Terrigal Foreshore Park The Esplanade
Contact: Lynn 0417 412 792

Batlow
Date/Time: Friday, Dec 14, 12:30 pm
Location/Event: Batlow Literary
Contact: Contact: Leslie (02) 6949 2377

Canberra
Date/Time: Tuesday, Dec 11
Location/Event: Garena Place
Contact: Songfa 0416 818 486
Related articles:
• Canberra Affirms Human Rights Flame

Perth
Date/Time: Sunday, Dec 9
Location/Event: Torch relay and ceremony
Sunday, 9 December 2007
Forrest Place, City
1:00PM ~ 3:00PM

Fremantle
Date/Time: Saturday, Dec 8
12:00 ~12:30 Street Parade
13:00 ~14:00 Ceremony at Kings Square
14:00 ~ 14:30 Torch Relay (Kings Square to Esplanade Park )

Adelaide
Date/Time: Monday-Tuesday, Dec 3-4
Torch relay and ceremony
Monday 3 December 2007
Victoria Square
12:00 ~ 2:00pm

Mayor of Mt Barker to receive the Torch
Tuesday 4 December 2007
Mt Barker (venue TBA)
12:00pm

Melbourne
Date/Time: Friday-Saturday, Nov 16-17
Ceremony and concert
Federation Square
Friday 16 November 2007
7:30pm

Parade and torch relay
Saturday 17 November 2007
Queen Victoria Gardens (opposite Arts Centre)
11:00am
Related articles:
• Melbourne Welcomes the Torch of Freedom
• Australian Communities Come Out to Support the Human Rights Torch Relay

Darwin
Date/Time: Thursday, Nov 15

Alice Springs
Date/Time: Tuesday, Nov 13
5pm the Gap (Relay)
6pm the Todd Mall (Welcoming Ceremony )
Following the 2000 Olympic Route passing through The Gap and to
the Todd Mall

Gold Coast
Date/Time: Saturday, Nov 10
Torch relay - 2pm / Eileen Peters Park - Esplanade opp Laycock St, Surfers Paradise
Ceremony & Concert - 3pm / Park next to Southport SLSC, Main Beach
Related articles:
• Human Rights Torch arrives at Gold Coast

Cairns
Date/Time: Saturday, Nov 10
Fogarty Park Sound Shell The Esplanade
Ceremony and entertainment - 10:00 am ~ 12:00 pm
Followed by Torch Relay along the esplanade
Related articles:
• Human Rights Torch Comes to Cairns

Mackay
Date/Time: Thursday, Nov 8
Jubilee Park (City council building)
5:30 pm

Sunshine Coast
Date/Time: Sunday, Nov 4
Event/Location: Relay, Felicity Park, 8.30 am
Welcoming Ceremony & Relay: 10.30 am, Mooloolaba Esplanade
Relay: 12.30 pm, Coolum
Relay & Ceremony: 2.00 pm, Noosa
Live Concert: 1-5:00 pm, Lions Park, Noosaville
Related articles:
• Torch Lights Up the Sunshine State

Brisbane
Date/Time: Saturday, Nov 3
Location/Event: Relay: 12:00 pm / Old Wind Mill, Wickham Terrace, Spring
Hill
Ceremony & Concert: 1:00 pm / Suncorp Piazza, South Bank
Related articles:
• Human rights protest relay hits Brisbane
• NSW One Day, QLD the Next — the Torch Goes North
• The Global Human Rights Torch Relay – Toowoomba Visit

Sydney
Date/Time: Saturday, Oct 27 10:00 am
Loccation/Event: Official Launch and Relay, TOWN HALL
12-5:00 pm Circular Quay Concert
7-8:00 pm Open Air Screening
Related articles:
• Torch Puts Rights on Olympic Agenda
• Tibetans, supporters in Australia join “Global Human Rights Torch Relay” against China
• Photo Report - Human Rights Torch arrives in Sydney

New Zealand

Auckland
Date/Time: Sunday, Dec 16, 1:00-3:00 pm
Location/Event: “Welcome” event, next to QE-2 Square, cnr of Queen St. & Quay St., Auckland City Centre. Speakers include Auckland City Councillor and NZ CIPFG member Dr Cathy Casey, and representatives from the Burmese, Sudanese, and Tibetan communities.

Hamilton
Date/Time: Sunday, Dec 16, 6:30 pm ~ 8:00 pm
Location/Event: Ceremony at Garden Place (outside City Council). Speakers include Green Party MP Nandor Tanczos
Contact: Barry 07 8477808, barry9@xnet.co.nz

Rotorua
Date/Time: Monday Dec 17, 12:30-3:30 pm
Location/Event: Ceremony at City Focus

Palmerston North
Date/Time: Tuesday Dec 18, 5:30 pm
Location/Event: Ceremony at The Square. Ceremony will be broadcast live by Radio Control 99.4FM. Speakers include Professor Li Dong.
6:15pm Relay through City Centre
Contact: Rob 021 178 5543

Upper Hutt
Date/Time: Wednesday Dec 19, 11:00 am
Location/Event: Ceremony opposite Civic Centre, cnr Fergusson Drive & Blenheim St, City Centre. Speakers include Professor Li Dong, Massey University and CIPFG member. Local music by George Johnston.

11:20 am Relay: north up Fergusson Dr to King St roundabout - south back down Main street - right at Gibbons St towards the highway and departure point.

Lower Hutt
Date/Time: Wednesday Dec 19, 1:00 pm
Location/Event: Ceremony at Riddiford Park, cnr Queens Drive & Laings Rd
1:20 pm Relay: North up Queens drive - left turn at Kings Crescent roundabout - left at High St roundabout - south down High St - over Ewen bridge - down Railway Ave - left up Parliament St towards departure point.

Wellington
Wednesday Dec 19:
4:00 pm Ceremony at Parliament steps
4:20 pm Relay to Chinese Embassy Lambton Quay
5:00 pm Civic Square, speech by Wellington City Councillor Celia Wade-Brown
5:15 pm Relay to waterfront and around to Waitangi Park
5:30 pm Ceremony and concert at Waitangi Park, Wellington- featuring musicians Jessica Chambers, The Thomas Oliver Band, and Justin (Firefly) Clark
7:00 pm/7:15 pm Relay through Courtenay Place - Cuba Street - Manners Mall - Civic Square

Contact Charlotte on (04) 384 4331 or 021 154 5656 or cipfg.nz@cipfg.net

Travel via Picton, Kaikoura
Thursday Dec 20

Christchurch
Date/Time: Friday Dec 21
11:00 am Relay from Victoria Park – Colombo Street – Cathedral Square
11:20 am Ceremony near Cashel Plaza, City Mall, cnr Cashel & High Streets
12:00 pm Relay Cashel Street – Memorial Bridge – Hagley Park – Museum – Arts Centre – Colombo Street (east).

Dunedin
Date/Time: Saturday Dec 22, 12:00-2:00 pm
Location/Event: Octagon, City Centre

Invercargill
Date/Time: Saturday Dec 22, 6:00 pm
Location/Event: Ceremony at Wachner Place, City Centre

Queenstown/Wanaka
Date/Time: Sunday Dec 23

Mt. Cook
Date/Time: Monday Dec 24; Tuesday, Christmas Day, Dec 25

Napier
Sunday, Dec 30

Gisborne
Monday, New Year’s Eve, Dec 31, evening event
Tuesday, New Year’s Day, Sunrise > fly to Pasadena California for participation in the Rose Bowl Parade