Address to the 1,200 School Children, delivered before the Adelaide Town Hall at Adelaide, South Australia (June 30, 1948)

Transcription

"Address to the 1,200 School Children"

Dear Boys and Girls-

Indeed I am always happy when I am among young people. I cannot see your bright faces or hear your merry voices, but I feel your loving interest.

Just now you are learning many wonderful things about the world we live in, and the splendid tasks you will perform when you reach mature years. Your teachers are planting an ideal world in your hearts, and I hope you will hold fast to it in the days to come.

It has been said that to attain what is noble is difficult, but the very effort to gain it creates character, strength and grit. Only through perseverance and overcoming obstacles can you accomplish anything worth while. We think little of what we win easily. It is struggle that gives victory its preciousness.

When you go out into the real world, you will find it a hard one, and many responsibilities will be laid upon your shoulders. Among them is trying to understand other people's problems and their way of thinking. That is the path to sympathy and the building up of true citizenship. That is democracy, which is a way of living together and working together. Only when we foster real democracy can we banish the intolerance and misunderstanding that divide the world today. You as future citizens will achieve immense good if you set yourselves this generous, broad work as your goal, and you will be happy to know that you are part of life's greatness.