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Young artists exhibit in Goyatz |
Birthday-eve events
Tuesday 22 October 2013 saw the official launch of the translated Leichhardt Diaries, edited by Tom Darragh and Rod Fensham, published by the Queensland Museum, to celebrate the completion of this mammoth project, at a special function hosted by GABA and the Brisbane German Club. VIP guests and visiting dignitaries and academicians raised a glass on the eve of the lost explorer's 200th birthday. Get your order form for the diaries here.
Humboldt Foundation awards
Two Bicentennial Research Fellowships were awarded in 2013, in memory of the great explorer ~ "like none other, he symbolises the bonds of friendship between Australia and Germany" said the Foundation. You can read more in English here and in German here.
'When Leichhardt came back ...'
In mid-1988, the long-lost Ludwig Leichhardt returned to Sydney after an absence of over 140 years ... and via an unlikely Cold War route. Ludwig R.H. Leichhardt, the great-great-grand nephew of the explorer - and a man who strongly resembles his famous relative - travelled from the-then East Germany to participate in a conference. The East German Liga für Völkerfreundschaft (International Friendship League) presented a relief of the explorer to the City of Leichhardt. Finally, a bronze bust, for which Ludwig Jr had sat as model, was flown in from East Berlin as national present to Australia in the Bicentennial year. Dr Andrew Hurley presented an interesting talk at the University of Technology, Sydney, on Friday 25 October, and you can download the flyer here.
Leichhardt in Parliament
On Tuesday 25 June 2013, Senator Sue Boyce (Queensland) addressed the Australian parliament. In a wide-ranging speech, Sen. Boyce canvassed some of the range of activities set down for the Bicentenary year ~ with particular reference to a project close to her own heart. Read more
SCIENCE CIRCLES
Australia-Germany Science Circles are a joint initiative of the German Embassy in Canberra and the Australian Embassy in Berlin. Keynote addresses for the events, which usually take place twice a year in each country, are given by leading academics or policy makers. In June 2013 in Canberra, the German Embassy and CSIRO hosted a Leichhardt-focused event. Read more.
Oktoberfest for Teens
Well, that's that for another year, and what a fabulous Oktoberfest Brisbane turned on in 2013! School was ‘in’ on Thursday, 17 October at Australia’s largest and most authentic Oktoberfest. Of course, this special year's events had a definite 'Leichhardt flavour'! Read more. You can see a selection of some of the excellent student posters here. We hope to bring some more reports and images as soon as the exhausted and happy organisers have recovered!