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The organization of such a large event was amazing, with the many pink-scarfed volunteers approachable and helpful, fabulous morning teas and lunches, displays, ample opportunity to meet and interact with others, and of course the inspiring speakers. Each day, the Tumbalong Auditorium was filled with delegates listening to the many pearls of wisdom from so many different speakers. Lynne Lawrence’s belief that we must ‘live’ our principles, was reinforced by Cheryl Ferreira’s quote “To believe in something and not live it is dishonest” (Mahatma Gandhi) in her talk on the difference that just one person can make towards a better tomorrow for all children. Baiba Krumins Grazzini reminded us of the importance of meaningful work, “Work is a fundamental instinct”, and stressed that the modern tendency to give children an ‘easy life’ leads to them becoming bored. Silvia Dubovoy discussed the importance of reality, and the fact that technology is a wonderful achievement, but “as images come to our senses faster and are more sensational, we become less able to distinguish what is real and what is synthetic, simulated or replicated”, and so should not be introduced to children until they have had lots of experiences with reality. The damaging effects of technology on young children were also discussed by Dr Silvana Quattrocchi Montanaro in her talk on the common obstacles to development that children experience in their early years, and how it is our responsibility to be aware of them and remove them. There were many more thought provoking, inspiring, and enlightening words spoken each day by all the speakers, so much so that the number of delegates who attended each day remained constant throughout because no one wanted to miss anything! The Gala Australiana was also very well attended, and thoroughly enjoyed by Australians and International visitors alike! The whole Congress experience certainly helped to achieve the vision held by Congress organizers, to ‘relight the spark within every soul present’. Debbie McCarthy
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