Media Release
4 October 2010
Western Australia-East Java Celebrate Their 20th Sister State Anniversary
Western Australia’s Governor Dr Ken Michael AC will visit East Java 3-5 October to commemorate the 20th anniversary celebrations of the Western Australia-East Java Sister State/Province relationship. During his visit the Governor will sign a re-affirmation of the Western Australia-East Java Sister State /Province Agreement originally signed on 21 August 1990. The Sister State /Province relationship remains important in promoting bilateral trade and business as well as fostering people-to-people links.
The Governor will also officially open the newly restored buildings of Surabaya’s Karya Mulia, the only school in Indonesia offering full education to deaf children. To commemorate this year’s anniversary, the West Australian Government contributed A$100,000 towards building improvements to the school.
The week long anniversary celebrations, which started on the weekend, will be showcasing the positive linkages and people-to-people relations already established between the two states/provinces. Celebrations kicked off with friendly international basketball games between Western Australia and East Java teams at Surabaya’s DBL (Development Basketball League) Arena. This will be followed by a West Australian food and wine showcase. Puppetry performances of The Turtle and the Trade Winds by Perth-based theatre company Sandpiper Productions will take place at one of the Australian Government BRIDGE sister schools-SMA 15 Surabaya. These performances tell the stories of North West coastal communities of Australia linked by culture to the seafarers and fishermen of Makassar. The celebrations will then conclude with public lectures by University of Western Australia’s Adjunct Professor Brian O’Brien and former NASA Principle Investigator on the 1960s Apollo moon expeditions at Surabaya’s 10 November Institute of Technology.
“The strong and active Western Australia and East Java Sister State/Province relationship has seen many programs and exchanges occurring in the areas of agriculture, education, governance, health, sport and culture. We look forward to this continuing and further developing into the future,” said Australia’s Acting Deputy Head of Mission, Michael Bliss.
BRIDGE is an Australian Government student and teacher exchange program which has seen 91 teachers from 47 Indonesian schools in 7 provinces visit Australia as a way of forging ongoing relationships between schools in both countries. Turtle and the Trade Winds performances in Indonesia were funded by the Australian Government, including through the Australia International Cultural Council and the Australia-Indonesia Institute.
Media Enquiries:
Sanchi Davis, Cultural Attaché tel. (021) 2550 5260 mob. 0811 936 302