Australian High Commission
Papua New Guinea

MR 090309 Balgo Launched

MEDIA RELEASE

9 March 2009

For immediate release

AUSTRALIA WEEK, BALGO TREASURES LAUNCHED

 

Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister, Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare officially launched Australia Week 2009 last night with the official Port Moresby opening of the renowned Balgo exhibition of indigenous Australian art. The launch took place at the Australian High Commission in Waigani at a reception hosted by Australian High Commissioner Mr Chris Moraitis.

This is the third annual Australia Week, and exciting week of events which started yesterday, and will run until 15 March.

Mr Moraitis said: “Australia Week is held annually by the Australian High Commission to showcase Australia to the people of Papua New Guinea and to celebrate the strong bilateral ties between our two countries”.

In opening the exhibition, Sir Michael said: “A natural affinity exists between indigenous people and I am pleased to see Australia is promoting this.”

“I am pleased to see Aboriginal spirituality, mythology and folklore kept alive in different forms as Papua New Guineans will witness during the course of this week,” he said.

“I would like to express my great satisfaction at the PNG/Australia relations reaching new heights today and on behalf of my government look forward to further deepening our relationship,” Prime Minister Somare added.

Mr Moraitis said: “Australians are very proud of our achievements. We are proud to be a democratic and multicultural society with a strong economy and vibrant cultural life. Australia Week is our chance to show some of that culture off to our friends in Papua New Guinea. It is also a great chance to get together and have a good time!” he said.

“We are especially pleased that the Prime Minister has honoured us by joining us to launch Australia Week and officially open this important exhibition,” he said.

The exhibition, called BALGO: Contemporary Australian Art from the Balgo Hills, is this year’s flagship Australia Week event. It is a major international exhibition of stunning indigenous Australian art, on public display free at the Australian High Commission.

Balgo brings together some of the finest contemporary Indigenous art to tour internationally.

The exhibition will be open to the public between 10am and 3pm daily, Monday to Friday, until 13 March.

A jam-packed program for Australia Week 2009

Balgo is only the start of the Australia Week events.

Another major highlight this year will be a visit by Christine Anu, one of Australia’s most successful female recording and performing artists and an iconic Indigenous Australian.

Christine will play 2 gigs in Port Moresby. On 12 March, she will play a show for competition winners and guests of the Australian High Commission at the Lamana Gold Club. She will also play for members of the public on 11 March at the Lamana Gold Club (tickets for this show will be on sale from the venue).

Christine will also be the guest speaker at several events during the week, including visits to some well-known charities and an event to mark International Women’s Day.

Other key events planned for the week include a Trade, Investment and Development Seminar aimed at PNG and Australian business leaders, and the launch of some major aid projects, including the opening of the new premises for the National Research Institute, provided under the PNG-Australia Incentive Fund and the opening of new facilities at the Australia-Pacific Technical College in Port Moresby.

A special one-off screening of the blockbuster movie Australia will take place for competition winners at the Port Moresby Arts Theatre, thanks to EMTV.

Other activities include games and school visits by the PNG and Australian Indigenous Under-18 Australian Rules Football teams, a series of Australia-themed films and documentaries on EMTV, a special Australian Music show in the afternoons on NBC radio/Tribe FM, an ADF-PNGDF golf match, and a fundraiser for the charity Buk Bilong Pikinini.

The major sponsors who have made Australia Week 2009 possible are Qantas, EMTV, Lamana Hotel, ANZ, Westpac and Casella Wines. The Australian High Commission would also like to thank NBC, Brian Bell, Pacific MMI Insurance, FM100, the Port Moresby Arts Theatre, The Post Courier and The National for getting behind the events.

 

Media Inquiries: Oliver Nombri, Ph : 3259333 ext 454, or [email protected], or Francina Thomson, Ph : 3259333 ext 276, or [email protected]