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Latest Update - August 2008
Jessica Mauboy, an Australian Idol, visited Indonesia in June and August 2008 with the IN2OZ program. On her
first visit, Jessica went to Jakarta and East Java whereas the second time, on August 20th, Jessica Mauboy
flew into Indonesia and immediately visited Kang Guru Indonesia in Bali.
Accompanied by her manager and her father, Jessica headed straight fo the Kang Guru Indonesia office in Bali
to meet up with Sue once again plus the rest of the KGI crew.
*Sue interviewed Jessica in Jakarta in June. You can read all about Jessica in the September 2008 KGI magazine.
Jessica stayed about 90 minutes enjoying a good laugh and relaxing int he IALF canteen over a very nice mixed
juice. The next day Ayu from KGI tagged along with Jessica to the Bali International School to see Jessica
perform and interact with the students there.
Here are some comments about Jessica after her visit to BIS
“She was really interactive with the students in a positive way. She brought the best out of them.
I think the students found her very inspiring and just with her energy that she put out. It's a great thing
to have someone who has cultural heritage of being part indigenous Australia and also Indonesian, something
that we relate to. It's very relevant with the idea of interdependent which is the idea of Indonesia and how
it relates to other countries. It's just great to have someone with such talent, we hope that we can see her
again in the future”.
Ed, music teacher at BIS
“I think she did a really great job, I really look up to her because that's my kind of style of
singing. The way she sang ‘Beautiful’ by Christina Aquilera was really good and I felt honored
to have to opportunity to sing with her”.
Ottavia 16, a student
“I think she is really great. I don't understand how she was only runner up in the Australian Idol.
She's such a great person and an amazing singer. I think she should've won”.
Tasya 15, a student at BIS
Read all about that (and more) in the September 2008 KGI magazine. You also have a chance
to win an autographed copy of Jessica's new CD due for release in September - check the Sept magazine and
the KGI Forum Page soon.
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June 2008 Indonesia
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Kang Guru recently met a great young woman with a fantastic future ahead of her. In 2006 Jessica
Mauboy, from Darwin in the Northern Territory, entered the Australian Idol competition. Jessica was
placed runner up in the final show. Since then exciting things have been happening in her life. In June
Jessica visited Indonesia at the invitation of the IN2OZ
program.
Mr. Bill Farmer, Australia's Ambassador to Indonesia, warmly welcomed her to Indonesia. He said, ‘With
an Indonesian father and an Australian mother, Jessica is a living example of the strong people to people
ties between Australia and Indonesia.’
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Jessica's short but very busy visit began with a trip to East Java. She sang the Australian National anthem
at the pre-match ceremony for the first Western Australia-East Java Friendship Football Cup. The next day
she was in Jakarta for an afternoon performance with Idol Divo - Mike, Judika and Lucky. That evening Bill
Farmer hosted a star-studded reception for her at his home. The three members of Idol Divo were there as
was Indra Lesmana one of the judges from Indonesian Idol. A group of finalists from Indonesian Idol also
came along and Dewi Sandra popped in too! During the evening Jessica sang a couple of songs including the
old Bee Gee's favourite ‘Smile an Everlasting Smile’ with Idol Diva and accompanied by Marusya
Nainggolan. She had had a very busy day!
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The next day she was very excited about performing on Indonesian Idol. Jessica told Kang Guru, ‘Its
great to see a lot of young youth/teenagers are very interested in the music and meeting them last night
- they were just so determined. I was there to give advice as well 'cos I kind of know I was in that position
and know what they're going through - the nerves the emotions. It's very difficult each week they're learning
a new song every time. Just getting up there in front of so many people on national TV - so its very hard
to do that.’ Jessica chose to sing ‘Crazy in Love’ on the show and she
was joined by Mike, Lucky and Judika and sang the Indonesian favourite ‘Sempurna’.
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Jessica told Kang Guru she was having a great time visiting Java for the first time. ‘You know I
love Indonesia. It is a very beautiful country. I think the thing I love most about it is the people and how
they just connect. They're so polite and they work very, very hard in any kind of job that they do and they
appreciate everything. Its just amazing here.’
Since becoming runner up in Ausssie Idol Jessica's life has changed in many ways. She told KGI that before
competing on Australian Idol she was not so confident. ‘The most exciting thing was getting to
know the music more and I guess opening up 'cos at the start of Idol I was very shy and didn't want to be
in front of the cameras. I never talked that much and Idol gave me a chance to show myself and be more open
about the music that I love. It has definitely given me a lot of confidence and a lot of determination.’
For Jessica another important reward from being successful in Aussie Idol is the shopping! ‘I have
more clothes than I've ever had. I can't stop buying new shoes I can't help it. I perform nearly every weekend
and as a performer and an entertainer that's the life style I'm kinda living now.’
What is she doing back in Australia? She is busy writing music for her second album. ‘The music
that I grew up with was a lot of country combined with a lot of R B soul. I'm open to any kind of music but
my favourite style is RB soul. I love the soul music. My favourite artist is Maria Carey.’
Does she have any advice for Kang Guru fans?
‘My Dad always told me to keep believing and I guess be happy with what you have and it will just
come naturally really and I grew up with just that - believing and determination. If anything goes wrong pick
yourself up and keep going that's the only way you are going to get to the next step. It isn't always easy
but I guess that's part of life. Work hard for what you get.’
After visiting Bali, Jessica visited SD - SMP Negeri SATAP Nungkurus near Kupang - an AIBEP school
in Indonesia
Kang Guru indonesia visted Nunkurus in October 2007 -
read Sue's Report
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IN2OZ Background
Established in 1998 with a secretariat in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), the Australia
International Cultural Council (AICC) is Australia's peak consultative group for the promotion of Australian
culture overseas. The Council is chaired by the Minister for Foreign Affairs with the Minister for Environment,
Heritage and the Arts and draws together representatives from government, the arts, and cultural community
and business with a common interest in more effective international showcasing of Australian arts and
culture.
The AICC is one of the Australian Government's most important cultural diplomacy tools. It has several
inter-related aims. The AICC uses a wide range of high quality cultural products to project a positive
image of Australia and engender a greater understanding of who Australians are and what they believe in.
AICC programs seek to engage, inform and influence audiences and to showcase the diversity of Australia's
culture and the quality of its cultural output.
At the same time, the Council promotes Australian cultural exports and consolidates institution-to-institution
links, thereby encouraging longer-term cooperation and cultural exchange. It also has an important role
in promoting greater understanding internationally of Australia's Indigenous cultures.
The Council supports and funds Australian cultural campaigns in priority countries in Asia, the Pacific,
the Middle East, North America and Europe. These focus country programs run over several months to two
years and involve a wide range of activities. Indonesia is the focus country for 2008.
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