At 76 years, the longtime and far-ranging peace, justice and environmental activist, Graeme Dunstan, is doing okay. Thanks to more than a little help from his friends.
But Peacebus, his chariot and the stuff of legend, is now worn out. With 630,000km on the clock and no reverse gear, there is no going back for Peacebus… and little more going forward either.
Graeme is appealing to his friends via Chuffed.org to help him out.
In the Rainbow Region of NSW, Graeme is known as a key co-creator of the 1973 Nimbin Aquarius Festival and, subsequently, as one of the leading pioneers of the counterculture that became established afterward across the Northern Rivers region of NSW.
He has had a lifetime of co-creating innovative events, events as diverse as the first-ever Lismore Arts Festival, Melbourne International Comedy Festival, the Dolphin Music Awards, the Burning of Old Man Time, the Rockhampton Tiger Ploughshare trial, the Lismore Lantern Festival, the #ClosePineGap campaign and the Anzac eve Peace Vigil at the Australian War Memorial.
For 20 years now he has been on the road with Peacebus, his mobile home and campaign vehicle.
He says, ‘It’s a tradie’s van fitted out with a bunk and rudimentary kitchen’.
‘Under the bunk are crates of banners and flags for dressing public places with colour and getting messages noticed. On the roof racks are horn speakers for getting heard and bundles of bamboo poles for mounting flags.
On the side of Peacebus, a campaign mural is mounted. These are distinguished by his daughter’s excellent design and his own careful brushwork.
Creating cultural movement is what Graeme has always aimed to do. Supporting other people in their acts of resistance is what he likes to do best.
Being visible as an elder and setting a good example to new generations of activists is what Graeme and his Peacebus do.
Keep Peacebus rolling on.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
