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Acehnese orphans from Aceh to Australia
In early September, a group of 20 teenagers from Aceh went to Australia. They performed traditional Acehnese
dances at Australian schools and universities. They were lucky enough to climb to the top of the Sydney Harbour
Bridge. One special event was being reunited with volunteers from Australia who travelled to Aceh the week
immediately after the 2004 tsunami.
“This trip is a celebration of the significant relationship between Muhammadiyah
and Father Chris Riley's Youth Off The Streets, an Australian charity organization,” said Australia's
Ambassador to Indonesia, Mr Bill Farmer. After the 2004 tsunami, the two organisations signed a historic Memorandum
of Understanding, forming a partnership to provide accommodation, care and education for orphaned survivors
of the tsunami. The Australian Government has promised 1.7 trillion rupiah (A$250 million) to helping Indonesia
recover from the tsunami — health, schools, infrastructure, livelihood, housing and governance.
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Geoffrey Saba and AII
The Australia Indonesia Institute (AII) always has great activities promoting cooperation and friendship between
Indonesians AND Australians - Australia Indonesia Youth Exchange program (AIYEP), the Muslim Exchange Program
and ACCICIS are always exciting and different. In Sept. 2006, AII arranged for world famous Australian pianist, Geoffrey
Saba, to give a series or workshops for Indonesia pianists.
These young musicians were invited to attend free Piano Master Classes with Geoffrey. They were held over
a three day period in the Australian Embassy Theatre in Jakarta. He spent valuable time with the students
listening to them playing selected pieces and then offering practical advice on how they can improve their
playing. What at terrific opportunity that was for those students. Thanks AII, and also special thanks to
Fiona Hoggart, Cultural Attache at the Australian Embassy in Jakarta, and her team, for all of their hard
work.
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A Football Match with a Difference
Sport is a universal language. Events such as the recent World Cup, the Olympic Games and Asian Games Doha
(Nov – Dec, 2006) always brings countries and people closer together, don't they? In July 2006, staff
from Muhammadiyah and the Australian Embassy played a game of football together in Jakarta. The Australian
Ambassador, Mr. Bill Farmer led the Aussies against Muhammadiyah's team, which included the Minister for
Sport and Youth Adhyaksa Dault (who scored three goals), Minister for Forestry MS Kaban and the head of Muhammadiyah
Din Syamsuddin, a member of the parliamentary foreign affairs committee and senior public servants. What
a great idea. The winners? Well, apparently it was a 4-4 draw. What a great example of friends having some
fun with friends through sport and on an international level, right?
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Australia Indonesia Youth Exchange Program - AIYEP
Eighteen young Indonesians made a farewell call on Australian Ambassador, Mr Bill Farmer, on Wednesday, Sept.
27th, the day before they left for 3-month visit to the northern Australian cities of Darwin and Alice Springs.
The group will stay with local families and have work placements at the Royal Darwin Hospital, local schools
and media outlets.
They will enjoy Idul Fitri celebrations with Darwin's Muslim community and the Indonesian Consulate. The Australia-Indonesia
Youth Exchange Program (AIYEP) has been building friendships between young people for quarter of a century.
It is a joint project between the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs (MENPORA) and the Australia-Indonesia
Institute (AII).
In February 2007, the AII and MENPORA will hold a special celebration to mark the 25th Anniversary of AIYEP.
Everybody who has participated in AIYEP will be invited. So contact http://www.dfat.gov.au/aii/ for
more details.
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Science is Fun
Irwan Ade Putra and Pangus Ho are both high school students in Jakarta. They are also members of Indonesia's
physics team which won four gold medals at the 2006 International
Physics Olympiad in Singapore. They beat 86 other countries to win. Australia's Department of Education,
Science and Training (DEST) and the Australia-Indonesia Institute (AII) invited them and their coach, Professor
Yohanes Surya, to visit Melbourne and Canberra in September to show Australian school students and teachers
that when science is made fun, it can be easy too.
From left to right: Lucy (an Aussie student) with Irwan and Pangus in Australia.
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Helping In The Kitchen
Australia's Ambassador, Bill Farmer, visited Pesantren Al-Nur in Depok during the fasting month. ;He enjoyed
visiting the 250 orphans that live at the school, including playing table tennis with them and hearing them
play traditional Islamic music — orkes rebana. He also cooked some tasty noodles for the children's
fast-breaking meal.
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An Aussie Performer Welcomed to Indonesia
Indonesia's Twilite Orchestra, led by Addie MS (see KGRE Sept. 2006 magazine), held the 6th Annual Musik
Academia Concert at Istora Senayan last September. Besides wonderful symphonic music from the orchestra,
Australian opera singer, James Egglestone, sang with the orchestra. Other perfomers included Delon, Sherina,
Kevin Aprilio, the Twilite Youth Orchestra and Twilite Chorus, as well as university choirs from STIE Perbanas,
Atmajaya and IBP. You should look out for Twilite's next performance and go along and enjoy music at its best!
Well done Addie MS
— KGRE salutes you.
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