Speeches
Tuesday, 26 November 2024
UNESCO Adelaide Awards for 2024
Rod and I, as joint patrons, are delighted be with you to recognise the work of the Adelaide Chapter of the UNESCO clubs and to present this years’ four awards.
Thank you Rosemary for once again graciously hosting this event at your lovely home and Emily for the beautiful flowers.
Each year through these awards, we are reminded that the work of UNESCO is not just about lofty ideals.
It is a call to us all to ensure we build societies which champion opportunity, education, science, the arts, sport, language, and engaged citizenship.
In effect all that which makes us us - a caring community investing in our culture.
The four winners we will honour shortly are South Australians who have lived these ideals:
- the Late Dr Lowitja O’Donoghue AC CBE DSG, Yankunytjatjara leader who knew adversity, but broke new ground for Indigenous women, native title, and Aboriginal rights. She was the first Aboriginal person to address the United Nations General Assembly.
- Professor Jim Gehling AO, scientist, who whose ground-breaking work inquires into and explains Australia’s oldest known animal fossils, and who named a new geological time period.
- Textile artist Cheryl Bridgart (bridge art), whose amazing embroideries strikingly capture our culture and who embroidered a portrait of my predecessor The Hon Hieu Van Le in front of an audience while being recorded for television.
- And Ulrike Klein AO, who has epitomised the extraordinary contribution to Australia of migrants: building, with her husband Juergan, a globally successful health and beauty company Jurlique; and establishing Ukaria, a glorious venue which Rod and I love to visit, drawn by the beauty of the Adelaide Hills and the promise of world class concerts.
Friends
The Adelaide Chapter of UNESCO has played a vital role in upholding the aims and ideals of the organisation’s mission to build a more educated, culturally rich, scientifically advanced, and well-informed world.
This is even more important now that, currently Adelaide is the only chapter in Australia, with several interstate clubs having closed.
Rod and I encourage you in your quest to recruit younger people to your ranks.
But also, I know you are delighted to welcome a younger member to the committee this year in the person of Glenda Rowland. Welcome Glenda!
The list of achievements that Helen kindly provided demonstrates that since 2003 the Adelaide Chapter has made notable contributions both locally and overseas.
Rod and I, both as former diplomats, were interested to hear of your connection with the UNESCO Club in Hanoi, hosting them at a meeting and dinner.
Such international connections bring understanding, co-operation and a sharing of lessons learned.
Rod and I thank Helen Rice and the committee for your strong sense of purpose and deep sense of community.
We also thank the generous supporters, volunteers, and partners.
Congratulations to the award winners.
You all bring something of yourselves to build a better world.