From the Ambassador's desk - Australian Embassy To Ireland
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November 2018 Issue
The Australian Embassy Ireland E-Newsletter
From the Ambassador's desk
As a busy year draws towards its end, it’s time to look back on what has been achieved and think about what lies ahead. It has been a
momentous year for the Embassy, with both physical and personnel changes. We are happily settled into our new premises on St Stephen’s
Green, and the team, too has quite a different look, with four of our long-serving staff with whom we started the year – Sally Clarke, who
retired; Paul Caball, who is now working for the Irish Government; and office manager Emma Ward and receptionist/admin assistant Erin Lee,
who have found new challenges and opportunities elsewhere – having moved on. I want to take this opportunity to thank them all for the
great contribution they made to the Embassy’s life and work and to wish them well for the future. While sad to lose them, it is heartening to
know the marketplace recognises the value of experience working for the Australian Embassy.
We started the year thinking it would be difficult to maintain momentum after a bumper year for the relationship in 2018. That we
have done speaks volumes for the partnerships we have with key groups and individuals who contribute to the relationship at all
levels. I’d like particularly to highlight and thank the Irish-Australian Chamber of Commerce, both in Dublin and in Australia; the
Ireland-Australia Association, which continues its good work under new leadership; our departing Professor of Australian History at
UCD, Professor Amanda Nettelbeck (featured below); those who participate in our Women in Leadership group; as well as the
numerous community groups that drive activities ranging from sport, to culture and the arts, to commemoration of ancestors who
migrated to Australia in one way or another. One of the joys of being a small operation
here at the Embassy is that we can’t sustain the illusion we can do everything all by
ourselves: we love to engage with others to get things done, and greatly appreciate the
assistance you give us.
Next year promises to be challenging too – with Brexit a very live issue, and the
requirement for a general election in Australia by May meaning we’ll be competing with
lots of other issues if we want to get our messages through. But, with your assistance,
we’re determined to make it another great one!
Saovanee and I were honoured to attend the inauguration of President Michael D
Higgins on 11 November. President Higgins has been a wonderful supporter of the
relationship with Australia and we wish him and Sabina all the best for a successful
second term.
With every best wish as we move towards Christmas and the New Year.
Hurling Heads Down Under
In advance of the GAA heading down under to host the first ever inter-
county hurling match played in Australia the Australian Embassy hosted
a media launch event. The Galway Tribesmen and Kilkenny Cats
recently played in Australia as part of the 2018 Sydney Irish Festival,
taking the magnificent sport of hurling to Australian audiences. Present
at the Embassy were hurling players Cillian Buckley (Kilkenny) and
Padraic Mannion (Galway) together with GAA President John Horan.
Prior to the media event, people in St Stephen’s Green were walking by
with surprise as hurlers were involved in a photo shoot with a few of the
Embassy’s Aussie props, including our kangaroo surfboard and
inflatable kangaroos! The GAA’s choice of the Embassy for their media
event reinforced the close links arising from our two countries' shared
loved of sport. At the conclusion of the event the Ambassador was
presented with a custom decorated hurley to commemorate the Wild
Geese Trophy event.
@AusEmbIRE
Australia's Top Farmer visits Ireland
With Australia-EU FTA negotiations moving into full swing
(the second round of negotiations commenced in Canberra on
19 November) we were delighted to welcome the President of
Australia’s National Farmers’ Federation (NFF), Fiona Simson,
to Ireland on 16 and 17 November, along with the NFF’s Trade
Policy Director, Pru Gordon, and Nicola Hinder, who
represents the Department of Agriculture and Water
Resources at our Embassy in Brussels.
Fiona was warmly welcomed by her Irish counterpart Joe
Healy and his team at the Irish Farmers’ Association, who put
on an excellent program that ensured she was acquainted
with the quality of Irish produce (especially beef, scones and
cream) as well as with Irish farmers. After formal discussions
on 17 November, she ventured out to County Meath on 18
November for visits to Devenish Nutrition’s planned
agricultural research facility at Dowth, and to view a working
farm at Gaulstown House.
In each place, the conversations were notable for the natural goodwill that exists between farmers from every country, with all confronting
very similar challenges as they strive to create excellent, healthy produce to feed the world sustainably, and in a way that enables them also to
feed their own families. As ever, the really good conversations got under way once the tea and scones came out – and the closeness of the
connection was underscored when Irish farmer Ronan Delaney pulled out a didgeridoo gleaned during a working holiday in Australia!
We look forward to the dialogue continuing, and to the FTA negotiation creating still more opportunities for cooperation and
collaboration between our hard-working farmers, agri-tech companies and food and fibre producers.
A time of remembrance
This time of year is always replete with commemorative
events, but 2018 was special, with a bevy of events in
October and early November marking 100 years since the
Armistice. Supported by Australian Defence Forces
personnel based in London, the Embassy has been well
represented at these events – reflecting the fact that Irish
and Australian soldiers fought side by side in battles from
Gallipoli to the Somme, and, indeed, that many of those who
gave their lives in Australian uniforms were born here in
Ireland. It is always moving to recall their sacrifice, and to
give thanks that, in part because of it, we have not had to
endure a world riven by similar strife.
10 October marked the hundredth anniversary of the
sinking of RMS Leinster by a German submarine in waters
off Dun Laoghaire, just a month before the end of the War.
With over 550 fatalities, this was the most deadly incident
to occur during the War in the Irish Sea. Seven of the dead were Aussies, as were a number of the survivors. The Embassy was
represented at a concert to mark the occasion, and the Ambassador and our Defence Attaché, Colonel Sue Graham, attended a moving
commemoration in the forecourt of the DLR Lexicon in Dun Laoghaire on the anniversary itself. Additionally, Dr Jeff Kildea, author of
the book on ANZACs and Ireland presented a paper at a related seminar telling the story of the Australians involved.
Centenary commemorations of the end of the First World War were prominent in early November, with the Embassy deploying widely.
The Ambassador attended the launch of the striking statue of “the Haunting Soldier” in St Stephen’s Green on 4 November, and of the
“Leaves from Heaven” exhibit at St Patrick’s cathedral. On Armistice Day he laid a wreath at the official Irish Government ceremony at
Glasnevin on Armistice Day, as well as attending the Royal British Legion’s service at St Patrick’s Cathedral; Deputy Simon Mamouney
laid a wreath at the annual event at Trim; and Consul Therese O’Meally did the same at the event at the Irish National War Memorial
Gardens at Islandbridge.
Consistent with our experience at ANZAC Day events, which have grown each year, it has been heartening to see the increased respect
being paid to the memory of men and women who gave their lives in the service of their country when it was controversial to do so; and
the increased recognition, through honoured participation of representatives from both sides of the conflict, that everyone is a victim
when wars occur.
Keith Cameron Chair of Australian History - UCD
Based in the School of History at University College Dublin, the Keith Cameron Chair
began life in 1985 through an endowment by the Commonwealth of Australia and the
family of Dr Tony O’Reilly. In 2006 it was re-endowed then-Prime Minister John Howard
in acknowledgement of Ireland’s unique importance in Australian history and culture.
The current occupant of the Chair is Professor Amanda Nettelbeck from the University
of Adelaide. In her words “I arrived in Dublin on the last day of 2017 to take up my
position as the 15th Keith Cameron Chair in Australian History. In carrying forward the
long tradition of teaching Australian History at University College Dublin, I’ve gained
greater insight into the really strong synergies which bind Australian and Irish histories
together, and which continue in our countries’ ongoing social, economic and cultural
connections. I’ve been delighted by the way Irish students have engaged deeply with
Australian history and discovered new ways to elaborate on its parallels with Ireland’s
own past. History is a wonderful discipline not only for examining the shared past, but
also for reflecting on shared debates and common concerns about national identity in a
globalised world. I’ve particularly loved working with the Australian Embassy this year to explore these commonalities in
greater depth. We’ve had many opportunities to host a range of visiting Australian speakers who have come together with
Irish counterparts to discuss subjects as diverse as constitutional change, human rights, understandings of regionalism, and
means of reconciling with historical injustice. As Ireland continues to move through its Decade of Centenaries, the avenues
of comparison with Australia’s debates about history and historical remembrance are richer than ever. It’s been my privilege
and very great pleasure to have been Keith Cameron Chair of Australian History in 2018, and I thank everyone at the
Australian Embassy and the School of History at UCD, all of whom have made me feel so welcome and helped to make 2018
such a rewarding year.”
At the Embassy we would particularly like to thank Professor Nettelbeck for all the energy and enthusiasm that she has put
into the role, including giving the main address at the 2018 ANZAC Day ceremony at the Grangegorman Military Cemetery.
From the Consular Team
Are you planning to escape the cold weather and travel back to
Australia over the Christmas and New Year period? If you are
an Australian Citizen remember you need to enter and leave
Australia on your Australian passport so now is the time to
check to see if it is still current and ensure it has at least six
months validity left.
To renew your passport or apply for one please go to our
website: https://ireland.embassy.gov.au/dubl/Passports.html
and make a time to come in and see us. Once we see you and
have all the information it will take around 3-4 weeks for your
passport to get to you, so don’t leave it too late!
Melbourne Cup at the Australian Embassy
On the eve of the running of the Melbourne Cup in Australia there
was a slight pause in Ireland for the Embassy Melbourne Cup. A
family friendly event, the event saw over 50 kids and big kids alike
come to the Embassy and participate in the unique racing events.
Australian food was served, which included sausage rolls, lamingtons,
pavlova, cheesymite scrolls and Australian hibiscus flowers in non-
alcoholic pear cider.
Guests were able to race the handmade wooden horses on our
specially laid Embassy racetrack. There were two categories for kids
and five heats for adults with a final to determine the overall winner.
10yo race winner Maya McDoughall put all the adult competitors to
shame and claimed overall first place. It was a fun evening to
introduce (and reacquaint some) guests with Australia’s most famous
horse race and prove not all Embassy events need be so formal!
Schoolboy Rugby Team coming to Ireland
With rugby fever at an all-time high across Ireland after a
thrilling 6 Nations Grand Slam, an exciting tour Down Under vs
the Wallabies this summer and the historic win at home vs the
All Blacks, we are delighted that 27 of Australia’s most
promising young rugby players will be visiting these shores
later this month to take on the best of the Irish!
The Australian Schoolboys Rugby team will be touring Ireland
from 25 November taking on Munster Academy down in
Limerick; Ulster Academy up in Belfast and culminating in a
showdown vs the Irish U19s in Dublin. Amidst all the great
rugby we hope that some great friendships between the teams
develop as well as memories to last a lifetime.
The Embassy wishes all the players the best of luck and can’t
wait to see these young Aussies representing the gold jersey
with pride! We encourage everyone to support the boys at all
the games - details below and more information about tickets
will be shared on social media. Did you know the Wallabies are the only team to defeat the Ireland National Rugby team in 2018? Here’s
hoping for more of the same on December 8!
- Australia v Munster Academy, November 30
- Australia v Ulster Academy, December 4
- Australia v Ireland U19s, December 8
Lloyd Barber
Music promotor and a professional drummer with 25 years experience who as a
massive Thin Lizzy fan moved to Ireland 22 years ago. www.lorproductions.eu
5 words that describe what Australia represents or means to you: Never ending summers • Outback • BBQs • Mates • Amazing Wildlife
An Australian figure that you would like more people to know about: Fred Hollows - legend
Your Aussie Desert Island survival kit: One Australian song - "Bow River" by Cold Chisel • One Australian book - Leroys Big Adventure •
One Australian movie - Breaker Morant • One Australian food item - The Meat Pie • One Australian luxury item - Carton of Boags Premium
Your top recommendation for a first time visitor to Australia: - Rose Bud café Victoria for the best Vanilla slices in Oz - Hobart for the
best scallops pies and beer in the world - Mt Wellington – Tassie for best view in Australia - The Hinterland- lush beyond belief - The
Outback- Hard land - hard people with hearts of gold - Bay of Fires-Tassie - Adelaide Hills and surrounding wineries - The Rocks and
Sydney Harbor- just wow! - Sunshine Coast- Paradise
Your life philosophy and/or a life-changing changing moment you experienced in Australia: Deciding on a whim to visit Ireland for a
weekend...turned into a 22 years chapter…Life is short- don’t get hung up on the small things
My favourite quotes that I use:
“It’s not what you start ….it’s what you finish”
“Self praise is no praise”
And my favourite from Socrates - “Know thyself “
Upcoming Events 30 November 2018 - Australian Schoolboys v Munster Academy, Limerick
4 December 2018 - Australian Schoolboys v Ulster Academy, Belfast
8 December 2018 - Australian Schoolboys v Ireland U19s, Dublin
25 - 28 December 2018 - Embassy closed for Christmas
1 January 2019 - Embassy closed for New Years Day
25 January 2019 - Irish Australian Chamber of Commerce Australia Day Corporate Lunch
26 January 2019 - Australia Day
- Ireland Australia Association Galah Ball
25 April 2019 – ANZAC Day Dawn Service – Grangegorman Military Cemetery
To include an event on this calendar send us an email - Austremb.Dublin@dfat.gov.au
Ireland Australia Association
BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND….
The Australia Day Black Tie Gala(h) is returning to the City Centre.
Hosted by the Irish Australian Association and supported by our
Patron, HE Richard Andrews and the Australian Embassy Ireland. The
Annual Gala(h) Ball is a celebration of our Australian culture, right here
in our “home away from home”. The ball provides a unique opportunity
for blokes, sheilas and leprechauns alike to cast aside their dungarees
and gold, for a slightly more sophisticated night of celebrations, to
strengthen the Australian Irish partnership and to cultivate new and
long standing mateship. Our aim is for you to enjoy an evening inspired
by Australiana crafted food, wine and entertainment.
SAVE THE DATE - January 26, 2019:
The Morrison Hotel, Dublin 1
6:00 pm till 1:30 am
Tickets on sale via www.irelandaustralia.ie
MORE ON OUR LATEST EVENT …
Recently we held our annual Melbourne Cup Quiz at the “51” Pub where over 50 “punters” attended.
The “IAA brains trust” put forward some curly questions this year, which saw last year’s runner up team take the win by a hefty horse’s
length! A big thank you to all who attended, well done to the winners and those that won the raffle prizes from Teelings' Whiskey, Veuve
Clicquot, Liberty Wine and the rissoles meat tray from Fallon & Byrne. Don’t be a Galah, see you on Australia Day!
The Irish Australian Chamber of Commerce
The next big event in the Irish Australian Chamber of
Commerce's calendar is the return of our flagship Australia
Day Corporate Lunch on Friday 25 January 2019. It will take
place in the Hogan Suite in Croke Park. Michael Lynagh,
Managing Director Dow Jones and breaker of Irish rugby
supporters’ hearts in the 1991 Rugby World quarter final, is
our guest speaker. The Australian ambassador, our patron,
will be attending along with several international guests.
Australian wines will be served as well as a few other
surprises from Australia. The event was a sell-out last year
and was enjoyed by all. Tables can now be bought by
foundation and corporate members now with the public sale
commencing soon. Pre-sale invitations have been sent out to
foundation and corporate members.
https://www.australianchamber.ie/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=25 - The Chamber looks forward to seeing you all at what promises
to be a memorable lunch!
Out of the woodwork
In an Embassy, you never know what you'll have to deal with next. For
example, recently the Embassy was contacted by the GAA about
bringing hurleys into Australia for the 2018 Sydney Irish Festival for the
match between Galway and Kilkenny. Apart from explaining to officials
in Australia exactly what a hurley is, to ensure that there were no
unnecessary obstacles or delays on the teams’ arrival in Australia,
Australian officials from four cities (Dublin, Brussels, Canberra and
Sydney), across two departments (Agriculture and Foreign Affairs and
Trade) and three divisions (Trade and Market Access, Biosecurity Plant,
and Biosecurity Operations) worked together to facilitate the arrival of
the sticks. These areas worked together to provide advice on
documentation and declarations for bringing sporting goods into
Australia, requirements for sticks to be clean and free of soil, grass and
other biosecurity concerns, and ensuring that duty staff at airports
were aware of the arrival of this important cargo. One of the many
ways we work behind the scenes to protect Australia’s unique pristine
environment while bringing the world to Australia.
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