News 2011
Mor "Metro West" High School in Raanana and the Moriah College Tour Band from Sydney, Australia Unite for Gala Concert
The Australian Embassy in Israel partnered with the Municipality of Raanana to host a joint concert by music students from Mor "Metro West" High School in Raanana and the Moriah College Tour Band from Sydney Australia.
Moriah College is a Jewish Day School in Australia. Forty-five of its high school and middle school students toured the USA and Israel in November and December, with the school’s Music Director, Mrs Roberta Goot, to perform at various venues.
In Raanana the Sydney students met with Metro’s Music Department students who share a common love of music, in an extensive program of musical workshops organized by the Head of Metro’s Music Department, Michael Shenhav.
The teenagers performed a joint concert in front of an audience of over 250 people, which included the Mayor of Ra’anana, Mr Nachum Hofri, the Australian Embassy’s Chargé d’Affaires, Mr Luke Davies and the principal of Metro West High School, Mr Amnon Bar Natan.
Be’ersheva Commemoration Service
On the morning of October 31, 1917, some 120,000 Australian, New Zealand and British troops participated in the Battle of Beersheva. Their victory marked a turning point in the World War I Palestine Campaign. It allowed the Allied forces to outflank the Ottoman defensive line stretching from Gaza to Beersheva, opening the way for the capture of Gaza, Jerusalem, Nazareth and Tiberias in the months that followed. The taking of Beersheva was the first step in bringing an end to Ottoman rule in Palestine. It and subsequent battles of the Palestine Campaign are widely recognized as critical on the long road toward the establishment of Israel in 1948.
The critical victory at Beersheva and those that followed came at a heavy price for both sides. 1241 Commonwealth soldiers, including 175 Australians, are buried in the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery in Beersheva.
On 31 October the City of Beersheva commemorated, as it does each year, the Australian contribution. Around one hundred people gathered first at the Pratt Park of the Australian Soldier, then at the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery and lastly at the Turkish obelisk in Beersheva's Mustafa Kamel Ataturk Plaza. Among those present were the Mayor of Beersheva, diplomats and defence attaches from Australia, New Zealand, Turkey, Germany, the United Kingdom and Israel, Australian troops serving with the Multinational Force and Observers in the Sinai and the UN Truce Supervision Organisation, young Australians on gap year programs in Israel, and members of the Australian community in Israel.
Australian Ambassador, Andrea Falkner emphasized Australia’s commitment to peace and security in the region. She said: “Australia’s military engagement in the Middle East, which began with our contribution to the Palestine Campaign in World War I, continues today. In the ongoing quest for peace and security between Israel and its neighbours, Australian military personnel have participated in five peacekeeping and truce supervision forces created at various critical points in Israel’s history.”
Chiri Jazz Trio Performs in Tel Aviv
On 29 October the Australian-Korean Chiri Jazz Trio performed a concert at the Enav Cultural Center in Tel Aviv. The concert was sponsored by the Australian and Korean Embassies in Israel as part of the Australia-Korea Year of Friendship, celebrating 50 years of diplomatic relations.
Chiri visited Tel Aviv as part of their regional tour sponsored by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
“Chiri” is a musical project that introduces audiences to the tradition of pansori, Korea’s classical music theatre. Simon Barker (drums) and Scott Tinkler (trumpet), two of Australia’s most highly regarded improvisers, partnered with Korean pansori artist Bae Il Dong, for this performance.
It was the first time that an Israeli audience had been exposed to this kind of music and the trio made a lasting impression on the 250 attendees, who were delighted by the unique performance.
Chiri also wowed the audience at a short midnight concert at Shablul jazz club.
Anzac Day
The Australian Embassy marked Anzac Day 2011 with a traditional commemorative service at the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery on Mount Scopus, Jerusalem.
Ambassador Faulkner paid tribute to the Australian soldiers of both world wars who lie at rest in Israel and the Palestinian Territories, as well as to the Australian servicemen and women who carry on the ANZAC spirit today in combat, peace-keeping, disaster relief and humanitarian assistance missions around the world.
Among those present at the commemorative service were Australian and New Zealand soldiers currently serving with the Multinational Force and Observers in Egypt, and with the UN Truce Supervision Organisation in Israel, Lebanon and Syria.
