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Invitation to Join the Australian Alumni Network

Australian Foreign Minister  visits Brussels for ISAF Meeting

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Bob Carr, and the Minister for Defence, Stephen Smith, visited Brussels to participate in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) meeting on Afghanistan on 19 April. Following the meeting, the two ministers issued a joint statement on Afghanistan. Senator Carr also met the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton and NATO Secretary General Mr Anders Fogh Rasmussen.  

Left to right: Bob Carr, (Minister of Foreign Affairs, Australia) with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen. Photograph courtesy of NATO  

 Foundation stone laid for Plugsteert 14-18 Interpretation Centre

Australia’s Ambassador, Dr Brendan Nelson, joined the Burgomaster of Comines-Warneton, Gilbert Deleu, in early May to lay the foundation stone for the new Plugsteert 14-18 Interpretation Centre. The centre’s displays will focus on the experiences of soldiers and civilians in the area during World War One. Scenographies will depict the Catacombs built by the 1st Australian Tunnelling Company in 1915, Australian diggers’ participation in the Battle of Messines in June 1917 and their endurance through the bitterly severe winter of 1917-18. The Australian Government is making a financial contribution of up to €150,000 to this important project. It will form part of the Australian Remembrance Trail along the Western Front. The Interpretation Centre is scheduled to open next year.

Ambassador Nelson and Burgomaster Deleu shake hands after laying the foundation stone for the Plugsteert 14-18 Interpretation Centre. More photographs of the ceremony can be viewed here.

Photographs and Information about ANZAC Day 2012 Commemorations in Belgium

Ambassador Gifts Painting to European Union 

Ambassador Nelson presented a painting by Indigenous artist, Margaret Whitehurst, to EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Baroness Catherine Ashton, on 20 April. The painting, Emu in the Sky, signifies the time of year when Indigenous communities go into the bush, working together to collect emu eggs. Similarly, Australia and the EU are strengthening their cooperation through negotiation of a bilateral framework agreement, and deeper cooperation on development assistance, climate change and crisis management.

The Ambassador noted that the painting, Emu in the Sky, was shown at the European Parliament in the Ilgarijiri: things belonging to the sky exhibition, which was held in support of Australia’s bid to host the Square Kilometre Array, in March this year. 

 Ambassador Nelson and Baroness Catherine Ashton hold “Emu in the Sky”

Invitation to Join the Australian Alumni Network

The Australian Embassy is creating an alumni network of students and graduates in Belgium and Luxembourg who have studied at an Australian university or tertiary institution at undergraduate or postgraduate level. If you undertook a course of studies in Australia or an exchange programme between Belgium or Luxembourg and Australia, please email us at aei.brussels@dfat.gov.au and send us your name, the course and institution, years you studied there, your current occupation and to confirm you would like to be on our mailing list. The Embassy is planning to host a reception later in the year to launch the network and we will be sending invitations shortly.

News

Media release: Australia promotes cooperation with small European states
Media release: Australia urges open markets to promote growth and create jobs
Joint statement on Afghanistan: Australian intervention at NATO/ISAF Foreign Affairs and Defence Ministers' Meeting in Brussels

Australia and Europe strengthen carbon market collaboration

EU-Australia Education and Training Policy Dialogue held in Brussels
 

Media release: Australia secures future fish stocks with two new treaties

Australia to host 2013 Project Directors' Conference

Media Release: Launch of video promoting Australia's international education sector under its new brand, Future Unlimited.

Media Release: Appointment as Minister for Trade and Competitiveness

Embassy News

 Ambassador hosts Sint-Amelberga students and teachers at Embassy

Ambassador addresses EABC forum in Sydney

Ambassador Opens Ilgarijiri Exhibition at European Parliament