The Peace Tree project was created by Tracey Smith for the Animating space Festival in Gladstone. This community-based festival was a mulit-arts celebration-taking place at the Gladstone Aquatic Centre. This creative concept was inspired by the international Peace Tree day to celebrate children, families of every culture and faith to share and celebrate peace and diversity.
“I felt it was a beautiful way to engage the community in an activity and to come together in a meaningful way.” Tracey said. Tracey engaged with local organisation Welcoming Intercultural Neighbours and their clients to collect peace symbols from their various cultures for the project. On the day of the event, the community members could engage with the project by choosing and decorating a symbol and then writing their own peace message on the back to hang on Gladstone’s peace tree. The Peace tree from this event is now planted at Gladstone’s Tondoon Botanic gardens and is now the meeting place of many local groups for events such as Harmony day and prayer for peace. |