Andy Thomas Space Medallion Prize Winner for Victoria

Young Australians were challenged by Australian-American astronaut Andy Thomas and Engineers Australia to answer the question: “Why is studying math and science important to Australia’s future?” Participants submitted 750-word essays, judged by Engineers Australia, with seven winners announced from space by Thomas during his flight on the Space Shuttle Discovery in July 2005. Thomas carried the prizes – solid silver medallions modeled on the STS-114 crew emblem and including the engraved launch and landing dates — with him on the mission that marked the first return to space following the Colombia accident.

Victoria’s recipient of the Andy Thomas Space Medallion is Ms. Danae Andreopoulos-Malikotsinas, Camberwell Anglican Girls’ Grammar School, Victoria.

Consular Officer Visit to Tasmania to Assist American Citizens

28 October 2005

A U.S. Officer visited Hobart at the Town Hall on Friday, October 28^th, 2005 for Consular Services. A number of U.S. citizens in Tasmania took advantage of this visit and potentially saved themselves a trip to Melbourne.

Chat - U.S. Visas for American Citizen Family Members

25 August 2005

A Consular Officer from the Visa Section conducted an on-line chat session from 2:00pm to 3:00pm on August 25 to answer questions on visas for family members of American Citizens.

If you have any further questions please send them to amvisa@state.gov.

• Chat Transcript

The Role of Bilateral and Multilateral Agreements in Global Trade Liberalization

8 to 16 August 2005

The Cato Institute’s Director of Trade Policy Studies, Daniel Griswold, visited Australia on August 8-16 to discuss the role of bilateral and multilateral agreements in global trade liberalization. He met with government officials, lobbyists, academics, students and businesspersons in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth. Perhaps the highlight of his visit was addressing the inaugural session of the new "Confucius Institute" at the University of Western Australia. Griswold’s vigorous advocacy of free trade, observations on Sino-Australian FTA negotiations, and characterization of its possible impact on U.S. relations with both countries were timely and well received by the audience.

U.S. NASA Astronaut visits Melbourne

Melbourne — 5 July 2005

U.S. NASA astronaut Colonel Pamela Melroy was welcomed to Melbourne July 5^th as part of NASA’s efforts to recruit young talent for future space flight. Melbourne’s Strathmore Secondary College hosted a presentation by Colonel Melroy regarding NASA’s space exploration program as well as her personal experience as a space shuttle pilot and crew member. Col. Melroy spoke to an enthralled crowd while telling them of her ascent into the world of space.

Melroy’s visit coincided with the construction of a A$6.4 million Victorian Space Science Education Centre at Strathmore, due to be completed in September 2005. As she presented a montage of photographs to the school to hang in the completed Space Centre, she said, “Hopefully today I’ve inspired some future astronauts.”

U.S. Navy Ships visit Darwin

Darwin — 30 May 2005

The U.S. Navy ships USS Boxer (LHD 4) and USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53) sailed into Darwin on U.S. Memorial Day for a scheduled port visit in preparation for the upcoming joint exercise Talisman Sabre ’05.

More than 16,000 U.S. and Australian naval and military personnel are participating in Talisman Sabre ’05 in the Shoalwater Bay Training Area near Rockhampton in June. The knowledge shared between the participating U.S. and Australian forces during Talisman Saber ’05 will serve as a solid foundation for future allied operations as the need may arise. Through this interoperability, Australia and the U.S. will better be able to assist in maintaining global stability, which is key to security and prosperity of all nations.

U.S. Navy marks Memorial Day at the site of USS Peary

The visit to Darwin by the USS Boxer and USS John Paul Jones provided the U.S. Navy with the opportunity to remember both Australians and Americans who fought in the Second World War to defend Darwin. Memorial Day is the United States day of remembrance for those who have died in the service of the nation, whether civilian or military and it was particularly poignant for the USS Boxer’s Captain Thomas J. Curola to lay a wreath at the USS Peary Memorial where 91 American sailors perished during the bombing of Darwin. Joining Captain Curola in the Memorial Day commemoration were the Australian American Association, Northern Territory Administrator, Ted Egan, and Darwin Lord Mayor, Peter Adamson as well as representatives for the Australian Navy and the Chief Minister.

National Merit Scholarship certificate awarded

Melbourne — 10 May 2005

Consul General David T. Hopper presented a ’National Merit Scholarship Finalist’ certificate to Kamil Khan at Kamil’s former secondary school, St Michael’s Grammar in Melbourne on Tuesday, May 10. The presentation took place during the senior school assembly in front of an audience of 300 students.

Of the approximately 1.3 million mostly American high school students who took the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), Kamil placed in the top one per cent. Consul General Hopper remarked, “being named a National Merit Scholarship Finalist is a huge occasion. It is probably the most distinguished national scholarship recognition program in the United States.” Kamil will begin his studies at Princeton University in September.

Melbourne-Boston Research Exchange Fellowship

Melbourne — 2 May 2005

Consul General David T. Hopper spoke at the announcement of a new Melbourne-Boston Research Exchange Fellowship at the Royal Melbourne Hospital on Monday, May 2. The exchange is designed to develop opportunities for emerging medical researchers from Melbourne and Boston to be awarded a fellowship to undertake research in each city. The program is coordinated by the Royal Melbourne Hospital with support from the Melbourne Boston Sister Cities Association and the City of Melbourne. The Melbourne/Boston sister city relationship was established in 1985. Both cities share a reputation for medical excellence.

Australia 2005: Blow Glass Down Under

March to April 2005

The Corning Museum of Glass (CMOG) Hot Glass Roadshow occupied a prime berth at the National Folk Festival in Canberra March 25-28, 2005. More than 40,000 visitors were entertained and educated by glass-blowing demonstrations which featured the Corning team, high profile local glass blowers and students from the Glass Workshop at the Australian National University School of Art.

A silent auction of the glasswork produced during the Festival raised over $4000 for a mobile dialysis unit in Canberra. Festival organizers said “it demonstrated the community spirit that lay at the center of the festival.”

For more information on the tour, visit the Corning Museum of Glass website at www.cmog.org.