Plant A Tree

Since that Spring when my right leg grew a tumor,
We planted a tree every day;
In hospitals we planted trees of health,
In churches we planted trees of love,
In schools we planted trees of hope,
One day,
We will also plant ourselves as a tree,
generations planting on and on…
will grow and become forests of health,
will grow and become forests of love,
will grow and become forests of hope,

..................By Chou, Ta-Kuan

Fervent Global Love of Lives Award

At a school in Taiwan amongst the hundreds of children in a very small crowded room, my eyes were drawn to one child wearing a T-shirt with a very interesting design on the front. I asked and was told the story behind the artwork. It was painted by a child to illustrate a poem penned by Chou Ta-Kuan a brave little boy who died at age 10 from cancer. So special was he that through his poetry and love of life he inspired a nation. After Chou Ta-Kuan passed away, his family set up a foundation. Unknown to me his at that very time his parents were also asking about me. They had seen my on TV and approached the Joy Foundation. When I returned to Taipei I was informed that they would like to meet me.

As we had a large outdoor event scheduled a few days later, they were invited to attend. During the event I met the Chou’s family. I already felt bonded with the brave little poet. They said they would like to give me the Fervent Global Love of Lives Award for 2004. I was very humbled by this but more was still to come.

The day before I left to return to Australia, we met in the Joy headquarters. If I was already overcome by the award, the next piece of news really blew me away. Instead of bringing me to Taiwan, they would bring a group of 45 to Australia to present this award to me. This would include an orchestra of young blind musicians, some disabled youth and their own press people.

June 19 2004 Parliament House annexe, Brisbane. I was presented not only with my award, but was treated to an amazing concert by the orchestra.

Next day they were our special guests at Shaftsbury Campus where we sang, danced, and played music together. Their messages of thanks were written in Braille. They left not only a lasting impression of peace, joy and friendship but also their handprints on the rolls of HOPE paper. One special boy left his footprint. He had no arms. We planted a tree for Chou Ta-Kuan.

I moved into a house on the Shaftsbury site next day thinking this was where the Peace Embassy could be - but fate had one more twist for me.

...next......Leaving Caitlin