Rotary Peace Centre

Annette Brownlie 2021 Brisbane Agents of Peace

The experiences I have been privileged to have during my lifetime of working for peace with other like-minded people include:

  • Supporting the peace movement and anti-war rallies during my teenage years in Brisbane.

  • Joining People for Nuclear Disarmament (PND) in the 1980’s as people around the world grew more and more anxious that there would be a nuclear war between the USSR and the USA.

  • My PND experience included taking on a role as Co-convenor with my sister Beth Gordon and Ross Gwyther.

  • Just Peace was formed 20 years ago by a group of former PND members when we gathered in King George Square immediately after the 9/11 attack on New York and Washington. Bringing people together from many Brisbane organisations ultimately led us to establish a Qld Peace Network.

  • The Qld Peace Network (QPN) formed in 2002 and brought together over 50 Brisbane based organisations and with the support of then Lord Mayor Jim Soorley, QPN organised the February 2003 mass protest against the Iraq War.

  • In 2011 US President Obama and Julia Gillard announced the Pacific Pivot and that US Marines would be stationed in Darwin. A Just Peace initiative led to the formation of the Independent and Peaceful Australia Network (IPAN). Ross Gwytherand I are the Qld representatives. I have served as Chairperson of IPAN since its inception. IPAN has been running an historic People’s Inquiry into the Costs and Consequences of Australia’s engagement in USA led wars post WW2 and the Australia American alliance.

  • The International Day of Peace Alliance (IDPA) started in 2004 as an initiative of the late Richard Cowley. Richard and I metwith former Qld Senator Margaret Reynolds who suggested we run a Youth Peace Parliament (YPP). We held 4 successful annual YPP’s.

  • United Nations Association of Australia Qld (UNAAQ) Division. Vikki Henry, as the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) rep, and myself have been members of UNAAQ for over 15 years. Clem Campbell became President after Virginia Balmain left the role and with the support of Dr Peter Catt we are now holding the 9thBrisbane Peace Lecture. https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/bigideas/peace-lecture/4301714

I have been supported by my wonderful husband Bob and my family through these sometimes turbulent years of activism.