MEMBER SPOTLIGHT — WIRA MADJID
Welcome back to Member Spotlight where we introduce you to the personalities behind AIYA. This week, we introduce you to AIYA Jakarta Chapter Sports Officer, Wira Prabowo Madjid!
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT – BROLIN
Welcome back to Member Spotlight where we introduce you to the personalities behind AIYA. This week, we introduce you to AIYA Tasmania President, Brolin!
We Want You!
ACT students at the AIYA ACT Indonesia day with Suara Indonesia.
Learning Indonesian in school was an opportunity that neither myself nor my family knew would open doors. I began my Indonesian studies with no knowledge of the country, not even where it was situated. But, I could see from my teachers that there was something special that I was engaging with. The stories I heard in the classroom captured my imagination and sense of adventure. I have never looked back, taking every opportunity that flew my way.
AIYA MEMBER SPOTLIGHT – AGUS SUPRATMAN
We wish you a Happy New Year and welcome back to Member Spotlight where we introduce you to the personalities behind AIYA. This week, we introduce you to our AIYA’s Web & IT Officer, Agus Supratman!
AIYA MEMBER SPOTLIGHT – VANIA DJUNAIDI
Welcome back to Member Spotlight where we introduce you to the personalities behind AIYA. This week, we introduce you to our AIYA’s Graphic Designer!
Indonesia matters to us, and always has. Why the relationship will survive Morrison’s Jerusalem thought bubble
This article was originally published by The Conversation.
All hell broke loose during the Wentworth by-election when Prime Minister Scott Morrison suddenly announced that he was thinking of moving of Australia’s embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
The main objections came, not on merits of the idea itself, but on whether it would upset Indonesia, the nation with whom Australia had just completed a landmark, but unsigned, free trade agreement and the nation with the world’s largest Muslim population.
The agreement is now unlikely to be signed for quite some time. In a face to face meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo last week that was intended to clear the way, Morrison was instead pressed about the Middle East.
But how important is the Indonesian trade relationship really? And would it be folly to sacrifice it on the altar of Middle East politics?
Why the relationship matters
Australia and Indonesia have been entwined for a long time.
What is now Indonesia is almost certainly the Australian continent’s oldest trading partner.
Indigenous Australians fished and traded sea cucumber and other goods with their Makassan counterparts from at least the least the early 1700’s. Makassar is in the south-west corner of the Indonesian province of Sulawesi.
Australia provided critical support as what was then known as the Dutch East Indies fought for independence from the Dutch after the end of the second world war.
The Australian government provided medical supplies. Australian waterside workers refused to load Dutch ships.
Australia has helped in times of need
These close ties continued 50 years later during the late 1990s Asian financial crisis when the Reserve Bank of Australia clashed with the International Monetary Fund and Clinton administration, who wanted to impose tough conditions on Indonesia in return for bailing it out.
Australia’s Treasurer Peter Costello took the advice of Reserve Bank Deputy Governor Stephen Grenville, who had been a diplomat in Jakarta, and stared down the IMF and the United States.
As a result the Indonesian economy fared much better, recovered more quickly and avoided much of damage endured by other developing economies that had done as the IMF wanted.
Two decades on, Indonesia is one of Australia’s top 15 trade partners, worth A$16.5 billion in two-way trade, and one of the biggest markets for Australian education.
There’s room for growth
In many ways, Indonesia is underdone as a partner for Australia.
It houses abound 262 million people but only around 250 Australian companies of any size, compared to more than 3,000 in China.
Among the companies that do have a big presence are the ANZ, Leightons, the Commonwealth Bank, Orica and Bluescope.
Its attractions are a massive and growing urban middle class and its need for infrastructure given the logistical challenges of connecting a huge population living across over 17,000 islands.
The relationship will survive Jerusalem
A free trade agreement is important to both sides, whatever political rhetoric President Widodo might need to employ to hold off his fundamentalist opponents.
Morrison told Widodo he would decide on the location of Australia’s Israel embassy by Christmas. The trade deal is likely to be signed soon after.
Bali Democracy Students Conference 2018
“Democracy for Prosperity: Youth Perspectives”
From 6 -7 December 2018, 137 students from various universities across 58 countries gathered in Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia to participate in the 2nd Bali Democracy Students Conference (BDSC II), held in parallel with the 11th Bali Democracy Forum (BDF). There were three delegates from Australia, ourselves and Tristan Croft.
We discussed issues and shared our views on the challenges of making democracy that delivers prosperity particularly with regard to pertinent issues such as education, politics, gender, technology, innovation, prosperity, and social media.
Interview with Tom Lembong
Tom Lembong discussing economy of Indonesia and the bilateral relationship with Australia
As the Australia Indonesia Business Council (AIBC) Conference 2018 was held in Gold Coast earlier this month, AIYA had a chance to interview the head of the Indonesian Investment Coordinating Board, Thomas Lembong. Being one of the key speakers at the conference, the former Trade Minister shared his view regarding Indonesia’s prosperity in the midst of economic changes and global trends.
AIBC Conference 2018 – Partnering for Prosperity in a World of Change
The Australia Indonesia Business Council (AIBC) conference for 2018 was held from the 11th-13th of November on the Gold Coast in Queensland. With its theme ‘Partnering for Prosperity in a World of Change’, the conference stressed the importance of strengthening the relationship between both countries and overcoming challenges in order to achieve mutual prosperity.
AIBC Chapters Presidents with Indonesia Ambassador to Australia, Kristiarto Legowo and Consulate General, Heru Subolo.
Event Wrapped Up – Soundquriang, The V Act
photo credit: PPIA Macquarie
As one of the most favourite abroad destination for Indonesian students, Australia is a second home for one of four young Indonesians who studies overseas. As the statistic speaks for itself, it allows Indonesian students in Australia, who generally known as PPIA (Perhimpunan Pelajar Indonesia Australia) to have a solid community. It’s been a tradition of many PPIAs that spread all around Australia Universities to hold annual gigs to promote Indonesia cultures, arts, language and to unite Indonesians who long for their home country.
Held as one of the biggest PPIA events, the students of Macquarie University proudly presented their showcase of the year, Soundquriang, The V (fifth) Act. The event which held at City Recital Hall Sydney highlighted by Indonesia’s most loved band Sheila On 7 and Indonesia sweetheart vocal group, HIVI! Along with the performance of The East and Friends, the MURI record breaker Michael Anthony and the exhibition of Balinese cultures, Tari Kecak.
Arriving early, AIYA’s Blog Editor, followed the PPIA Macquire team in getting ready for the grand night and getting to know the creative persons behind the epic night.
The team briefing just before the night take over
With a typical excitement of a live performance, the wait has started since 4 PM whilst the team had a briefing and getting ready for the night that started at 6 PM. At 4.45 PM when the foyer was open for ticket collecting and purchasing, the committee that consist of 30 students was splitting up working on their roles in assisting the event from helping the attendees, getting the venue ready to selling merchandise.
Soundquriang the V Act is the biggest event that ever been held for Macquire PPIA with as much as 1,200 seats sold and 100% its profit made will be donated to Rumah Faye, a sheltering home for victims of child trafficking based in Jakarta. The impressive upscale of Soundquriang in their fifth year didn’t happen overnight, admitted by Joshua as Marketing committee. It has been 6 months of hard working that involves many leadership skills which the team treasured most as their learning curves in the organisation. For him and the team, the biggest challenge was to be able to grasp everything by themselves and balancing their study and working in the organisation.
In spite of having 30 people in the team, Joshua admitted that the tasks and responsibilities were outnumbered them and in times the countless lobbying and decision-making process felt overwhelming. He also called fellow Indonesian students to join the team in the coming year to bring their skills and creativity to use. In answering what the team will bring to the table for next year, Joshua jokingly said, “we aren’t sure yet but I just want this to be over first,” in stating how much hard work have been put up in realising the event. “We hope that everything goes well and everyone can enjoy the show, that’s for now, we will see what we can do next year.” He continued in hope and confidence.
Tickets collection and purchasing took place at the foyer of City Recital Hall Sydney
The show was opened with a welcome speech by Fionita and Richard each with their role as Project Manager and Venue Coordinator. The East and Friends opened the first act with Indonesia’s national anthems such as Indonesia Pusaka, Dari Sabang Sampai Merauke, to folk songs such Sinagar Tulo and Kincir-Kincir.
The East and Friends opened the night accompanied with Indonesian dancers
The event was attended by Indonesian Consul General for NSW, Bapak Heru Subolo, who used the opportunity to appeal everyone to register themselves for the general election which holds in the coming mid-April. He also addressed the importance of actualising ‘the modern Indonesia’ which allows Indonesians to be its people-to-people stakeholders in introducing Indonesia cultures, through music and arts in Australia.
Pak Heru giving his speech along with the event’s host, Darian
The night highlight began on the second act, the talented Michael Anthony Kwok, who amazed the audience with his talent despite his misfortune. Michael broke MURI record as the youngest visually-impaired and autistic pianist in Indonesia. The 15 years old learned music (piano) autodidact since three years of age and picking up only by listening. His talent was discovered by surprise when the Kwok family found Michael played an ice cream commercial jingle that he heard and ever since he been memorising hundreds of songs. Not only had he performed in the Netherland, but Michael also had his solo piano recital at the Sydney Opera House.
The extraordinary Michael Anthony who amused the audience with his music
Cruising with the night, one of the main guests, HIVI! presented the third act with their hits songs such Remaja, Pelangi, Kereta Kencan with many enthusiasts. HIVI! through their love songs has turned the recital hall into a warm and loving atmosphere with the audience sang and dance along with them. HIVI! took the night to express their gratitude to be able to perform out of the country and hope to entertain the Indonesia and Australia public in the near future through their work.
HIVI! spreading love through their songs
Before jumping to the heat of the night, the fourth act was a warm-up to the most waited guest. Exhibition of a contemporary interpretation of Tari Kecak was presented by students who performed Tari Kecak for the first time with the assistance of Balinese Tari Kecak community in Sydney.
Showcase of Indonesian cultures through Tari Kecak
Despite a minor sound difficulty, the night was carried well by the host Darian who used the opportunity to warm up the audience before meeting the night’ spotlight. Sheila On 7’s 22 years of existence in Indonesia music industry was not a myth as the crowd went wild with their appearance. The performance that seems like a solo concert brought the audience to their feet whilst singing along through the night. Duta expressed his gratitude for the chance to entertain Sydney fans for the first time in their music journey.
Duta and the band rock the nights with their hits
An encore was granted to close the intimate night.
The night through a lense, photo credit: Disty
Special thanks for the hospitality and the open hand of PPIA Macquarie to AIYA.
If you have any event that bridging both Australia-Indonesia you’d like us to cover, feel free to drop us an email at [email protected]