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EVENTS CONDUCTED BY MR JOHN MICHELL, FORMER HIGH COMMISSIONER TO AUSTRALIA , MAY 2004 TO JUNE 2007
FORMER HIGH COMMISSIONER JOHN MICHELL PRESENTS DAP GRANT TO D'ABADIE MEDIATION AND FAMILY SERVICES CENTRE
The Australian High Commission recently donated $TT 36,600 to the D’Abadie Mediation and Family Services Centre in Trinidad through the High Commissioner’s Direct Aid Program. Pictured above is the former High Commissioner HE Mr John Michell (right) presenting this cheque to Mr Wouldron L.E. Louison, President of the Board (left).
D’Abadie Mediation and Family Services Centre is a non profit charitable organisation. Its mission is to curb gang violence and youth delinquency through family counselling, education and skills training programmes in facilities presently under construction.
Australian High Commission in Trinidad and Tobago held its 3rd
ANZAC Day Commemoration and Wreath Laying Dawn Ceremony.
Australian Consul, Mr Tony Feeney, makes the opening remarks at the ANZAC Day Commemoration and Wreath Laying Dawn Ceremony
On 25 April 2007 the Australian High Commission in Trinidad and Tobago held its 3rd Anzac Day Commemoration and Wreath Laying Dawn Ceremony at the Chaguaramas Military Museum in Port of Spain. Australian Consul, Mr Tony Feeney, presided over the ceremony and laid a wreath on behalf of Australia. Chief of Defence Staff of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force (TTDF), Brigadier General Edmond Dillon, and Mr Brett Bulling of the British High Commission rendered traditional ANZAC Day ceremony readings and laid wreaths on behalf of Trinidad and Tobago and New Zealand respectively. TTDF officers and band in full regalia provided musical and symbolic elements of the ceremony.
As the final notes of the Reveille faded and against a background of war memorabilia guests laid wreaths and later shared the traditional gunfire breakfast. Guests and TTDF personnel voiced appreciation for the sincere and moving ceremony.
2007 Cricket World Cup
On the 15 March 2007 the former Australian High Commissioner, H.E. Mr John Michell, and his wife, Ms Suzanne Kuhl, hosted a reception in St Kitts and Nevis in honour of the Australian Cricket Team visiting the Caribbean for the 2007 Cricket World Cup. In addition to the Australian cricketing contingent, the reception was attended by the St Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister, government officials and Cricket Australia and St Kitts and Nevis cricket administrators. In remarks, the former High Commissioner welcomed the Team to the Caribbean and expressed confidence that it would acquit itself well in the tournament. Team captain Ricky Ponting in response expressed appreciation for the hosting of the reception and the Australian Government's support for the team. Pictured below (from left) is Ricky Ponting in conversation with former High Commissioner John Michell.
Former Australian High Commissioner to the Caribbean hosts
Australia Day Coupe De Champagne
Above from left: former Australian High Commissioner to the Caribbean, H.E. Mr John Michell, as he addressed members of Trinidad and Tobago’s Diplomatic Corps on Australia Day, Mr James Habib, Chief Protocol Officer of Trinidad and Tobago's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ms Suzanne Kuhl, wife of the former High Commissioner.
On 26 January 2007, the former Australian High Commissioner to the Caribbean, H. E. Mr John Michell, and his wife, Ms Suzanne Kuhl, hosted a coupe de champagne to mark Australia Day. The event was held at the former High Commissioner’s Official Residence and attended by members of Trinidad and Tobago’s Diplomatic Corps and representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Trinidad and Tobago.
The former High Commissioner noted in his address the importance of Australia Day as a day when Australia’s diverse population came together as a nation to celebrate being Australian. The former High Commissioner told guests that Australia’s relations with the region, particularly Trinidad and Tobago, were expanding. He said that many Australians were likely to visit the Caribbean for the 2007 Cricket World Cup.
Guests enjoyed a selection of Australian wines and a young and emerging Trinidad and Tobago pannist played the National Anthems of each country.
Below: Guests enjoying the former High Commissioner's speech
Australia’s Former Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon Alexander Downer MP, officially opens the Australian High Commission, Trinidad and Tobago
Pictured above is the Hon Alexander Downer MP (right) former Minister for Foreign Affairs and Mr John Michell, former Australian High Commissioner
On 14 December 2006, Australia’s Former Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon Alexander Downer MP, officially opened the Australian High Commission in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr Downer said that Australia had direct and practical involvement with Trinidad and Tobago, resulting in the 2003 decision to relocate the High Commission from Barbados to Trinidad and Tobago.
As well as identifying Trinidad and Tobago as the centre of Australian economic activity in the region, Mr Downer’s address highlighted the common bonds of membership of the Commonwealth and sports, especially cricket, shared by Australia and Trinidad and Tobago. He identified West Indies hosting of the Cricket World Cup 2007 (CWC 2007) as a good opportunity for each country, including Trinidad and Tobago, to showcase their strengths to the world.
The High Commission is accredited to 14 Caribbean countries and has visiting and consular responsibilities for another 11 countries/territories.
The Direct Aid Program
The Direct Aid Program (DAP) is a flexible, small grants scheme for development activities managed by Heads of Australian Missions in approximately 45 countries. The emphasis of the program is on alleviating basic humanitarian hardships.
Interested persons are invited to request a DAP Application Form from Sadie Poliah, DAP coordinator via e-mail at Sadie.Poliah@dfat.gov.au
Former Australian High Commissioner hosts Christmas reception for Australian Nationals
On 1 December 2006, former Australian High Commissioner, H.E. Mr John Michell and his wife, Ms Suzanne Kuhl, hosted a Christmas reception for Australian Nationals in Trinidad and Tobago at the Official Residence. Guests in attendance included Australians involved in the energy, education, sport, trade, financial, and security services sectors.
From right: former Australian High Commissioner, H.E. Mr John Michell, Ms Julia Feeney and Mr Tom Sinkovits, Chief of Mission of the International Organisation for Migration.
Guests mingling at the former High Commissioner's Christmas reception.
Former High Commissioner Awards a Young Caribbean Cricketers’ Scholarship to Trinidad and Tobago Cricketer
Former Australian High Commissioner, H.E. Mr John Michell (left), presents a young Caribbean cricketers’ scholarship package to Trinidad and Tobago’s Mr Ravi Rampaul.
Former Australian High Commissioner, HE Mr John Michell, awarded a young Caribbean cricketers’ scholarship to Trinidad and Tobago cricketer, Mr Ravi Rampaul, at a luncheon function on 20 July 2006 in Port of Spain. Guests included Trinidad and Tobago’s Minister for Sport and Youth Affairs, representatives of the West Indies Cricket Board, Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board and other sporting fraternities.The young Caribbean cricketers’ scholarship was awarded under the auspices of the five–year Australian Sports Outreach Program (ASOP), which Mr Michell launched in the Caribbean on 23 June 2006. Mr Rampaul, whose nomination followed close consultation between the High Commission and the West Indies Cricket Board, will undergo intense tutelage at the elite Cricket Australia – Commonwealth Bank Centre of Excellence in Brisbane Australia.
The awarding through the ASOP of a young Caribbean cricketers’ scholarship is an important step in building stronger relations between Australia and the Caribbean region. Currently, the Australian Government is examining the possibility of awarding further scholarships to young Caribbean cricketers over each year of the life of the ASOP.
Australian Parliamentary Delegation visit to Trinidad and Tobago
Former Australia’s High Commissioner to Port of Spain, His Excellency, Mr John Michell, hosted a reception on 12 July and a dinner on 13 July in honour of an Australian Parliamentary Delegation that visited Trinidad and Tobago from 12-16 July 2006 as a guest of the Trinidad and Tobago Parliament.
The Delegation led by the President of Australia’s Senate, Senator the Hon Paul Calvert, visited with the aim to expand the Australian Parliament’s understanding of Trinidad and Tobago. The Delegation met with Trinidad and Tobago’s President, Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition and the Presiding Officers of Trinidad and Tobago’s Parliament. The Delegation also toured the heart of the energy sector, Pt Lisas and Atlantic LNG and received a brief from BHP Billiton, an Australian company operating in Trinidad.
Pictured below is Senator the Hon Paul Calvert addressing the guests at the reception.
Former Australian High Commissioner, H.E. Mr John Michell, left and Senator the Hon Paul Calvert, President of the Senate, Australia.
From left: Senator the Hon Paul Calvert, President of the Senate, Australia, Mrs Jill Calvert and Ms Suzanne Kuhl, spouse of the former Australian High Commissioner at the former High Commissioner’s reception
From left: Mrs Gloria Shultz, Senator George Campbell (Senator for New South Wales, Australia), Mrs Kerrie Weil and Mrs Kavita Daly.
From left: Mrs Judy Boopsingh, Mrs Astra Ciobo and Mr Steven Ciobo MP, the Member of Parliament for Moncrieff (Queensland), Australia, at the High Commissioner’s reception.
From left: Ms Caryle Anne Herbert, Mrs Susanne Hogg and Senator John Hogg (Senator for Queensland, Australia).
From left: Mr Alby Schultz MP (Member for Hume (NSW), Australia), Mrs Gloria Shultz, Mrs Julia Feeney and Mr Tony Feeney, First Secretary and Consul at the Australian High Commission, Port of Spain.
From left: Mrs Susan Fielding, Senator Steven Fielding (Senator for Victoria, Australia) and a guest at the High Commissioner’s reception.
From left: The Hon Dr Keith Rowley and Senator Bill Heffernan (Senator for New South Wales, Australia) at the Australian High Commissioner’s dinner on 13 July 2006.
From left: Delegation officials, Ms Andrea Griffiths and Mr Don Morris, Mrs Rosemonde Montano and Senator Danny Montano have a quiet chat before dinner
Former Australian High Commissioner Launches Australian Sport Outreach Programme in the Caribbean
Above is former Australian High Commissioner, H.E. John Michell, (right) and Jamaica's High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago, H.E. Mr Peter Black, at the reception.
The former Australian High Commissioner, H.E. Mr John Michell, hosted a reception on 23 June to mark the Caribbean launch of the TT$45 million Australian Sport Outreach Programme (ASOP). Diplomatic representatives from a number of Commonwealth countries, members of the business and sport communities, Government officials and other guests who were present toasted the launch of the ASOP.
The ASOP, which was first announced by Australia’s Prime Minister, the Hon John Howard MP, in November 2005 is aimed at strengthening links between Australia and other Commonwealth countries in the African, Caribbean and Pacific regions. It focuses on developing sport (particularly junior level participation) and using sport as a vehicle to build awareness of key social issues e.g. HIV/AIDS and leadership skills among the young.
It is estimated that over TT$11 million will be devoted to the Caribbean region over the life of the ASOP (2006-2011).
Below : A cross section of regional Commonwealth country representatives at the reception.
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ANZAC Day Commemoration Ceremony in Port of Spain
The Australian High Commission in Trinidad and Tobago hosted its second Anzac Day Commemoration and Wreath Laying Dawn Ceremony on 25 April 2006 at the Chaguaramas Military Museum, Port of Spain. Former Australian High Commissioner, HE Mr John Michell, read the introductory remarks and the Ode of Remembrance and in his remarks reflected on the meaning of Gallipoli and the importance of commemorating ANZAC Day.
The event was supported by the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force and the British High Commission representing the Government of New Zealand. Following the Ceremony participants were treated to a Gunfire Breakfast prepared on site by the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force.
Pictured above is former Australian High Commissioner, HE Mr John Michell, as he read the Ode of Remembrance. The Australian, New Zealand and Trinidad and Tobago flags are pictured below as they were flown at half mast.
Visit by His Excellency John Michell to the Dominican Republic
During an official visit to the Dominican Republic from 16-19 April 2006, the former Australian High Commissioner, HE Mr John Michell, met with members of the Santo Domingo Chamber of Commerce to discuss possibilities for enhancing Australia-Dominican Republic commercial linkages. Pictured is Mr Michell (centre) flanked left by the President of the Chamber, Mr Jose Manuel Armenteros, and right by Chamber member Mr Fernando Gonzalez Nicholas.