Old boy spreads his message of peace

AS far as bragging rights at the high school reunion go, Barwon Heads’ Tim Wright likely has his former classmates beat.

The former school captain returned to Drysdale’s Bellarine Secondary College yesterday to share words of advice, wisdom and the Nobel Peace Prize his team had received for their part in the United Nations’ historic Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

Mr Wright is the treaty coordinator of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, the Aussie-born group that was announced as the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize winner in Oslo in October last year.

“It was really exciting for us when this treaty was finally adopted last year,” he said.

“We thought after the signing was done we could relax for a little bit but then we got the phone call from the Norwegian Nobel committee to say we’d won the Nobel Peace Prize.”

TPNW forbids the development, testing and ownership of nuclear weapons. Australia was not one of the 122 countries that committed to following the treaty last November.

While Mr Wright’s passion for social justice may have been born of a well travelled and socially-conscious family, he said his love of politics and determination to succeed was fostered during his time at Bellarine Secondary.

“When the prize was announced last year there were articles in the Geelong Advertiser saying this was proof of the value of public school education and I very much agree,” he said.

“Public school education sets you up very well and I don’t think it matters so much which school you go to — though you have an excellent school here and you’re very lucky.

“But what is most important is that you are committed, persevere, show initiative and follow your dreams.”