Torch relay through Toowoomba City

Welcome Ceremony

Traditional owners welcome the torch to Toowoomba

Students form the Glennie School release ballons

The Women in Harmony Choir

Ms Emmy Pfister

Mr. Ali

Mr. Ken Francis

Mrs. Tai Soo Kim

Mr Pan Qing

Prensentation of poetry competition winner

Alex of St Mary's College

Message of support from Councillor Sue Englart - for HR torch relay in Toowoomba

I write to offer my apology for not being present to support the Human Rights Torch Relay. Unfortunately, I am out of town so I cannot be present. I would like to wish you all a very successful event. Praise to the organizers and I pray that one day ALL people will be free and All people will be treated with respect and understanding.

Best wishes
Councillor Sue Englart

Cr Joe Ramia - In Support of Global Human Rights Torch Relay

It is with great pleasure that I would like to extend my warmest welcome to the Human Rights Torch to arrive in Toowoomba and to express my strong support of the message carried with the torch - - Olympics and Crimes against Humanity cannot Co-exist in China.

The Olympic Games stand for peace, fairness, friendship, justice and human dignity, and should be held in such spirit.

I hope through this global effort to uphold human rights and to raise people’s awareness of the atrocities against humanity that are still taking place in China, we can help make a difference. I particularly hope that the persecution of Falun Gong in China will soon come to an end. No one should suffer persectution and torture for their beliefs.

With best wishes for a successful relay in Toowoomba

Cr Joe Ramia
Toowoomba City Council

Alex of St Mary's - representing Toowoomba's youth.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As a student from St. Mary’s College I have been taught that everyone should be treated equally and given basic human needs.

In response to China’s lack of actions in not doing anything about its appalling human rights record, I believe it is important that people from Toowoomba have come together this afternoon to raise awareness of this lack of action, even though we live nowhere near China.

It goes to show that the actions of individual make the voice of the masses heard. Therefore, by all of us participating this afternoon in this relay, we are able to send a message that we will not accept the Olympic Games being held in a country with an appalling human rights record.

Alex from St Mary’s College

Global Human Rights Torch Relay - Toowoomba Speakers

Speakers:

• Miss Maddy Simons – representing Human Rights Torch Relay – Toowoomba Network
• Mr. Ken Francis - Representative from NCC
• Mrs. Tai Soo Kim – Chairman of Lifeline of Darling Downs and Southeast Qld
• Mr. Moses Ali – President of the African Community in Toowoomba
• Ms Emmy Pfister– CIPFG representative
• Student representative from St. Mary ‘s College
• Mr. Pan Qin - Chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party and Spokesman for the Chinese Alignment to Protect Human Rights and Resist Violance
• Liz from City Library awards prizes to two winners of Human Rights Torch Relay peom writing competition
• Glennie girls release ballooons

Relay starts
Concert start 6:00 pm
Performers include: Women in Harmoy Choir, well-known local singer Mick Lindsay