PNG: A Country in Crisis

Hosted by: AIIA Victoria

The event will start on: Wednesday, 16 November 2011 5:30 PM

And will end on: Wednesday, 16 November 2011 7:00 PM

At Dyason House

124 Jolimont Road East , Melbourne Victoria

03 9654 7271     events.vic@aiia.asn.au

Posted by: vic   

A recent series of articles in 'The Age' shocked readers with a graphic depiction of life in Papua New Guinea, Australia's former colony.  Accompanying photographs showed images ranging from severely malnourished children battling TB and meningitis to warriors brandishing bows and arrows.  Written by Jo Chandler, these articles exposed our nearest neighbouring nation - and the recipient of several hundred million dollars a year in Australian aid - as a country in serious trouble socially, politically and economically.

To explain PNG's challenges we are pleased to welcome Ms Chandler to AIIAV.  She is a Walkley Award-winning senior writer with 'The Age' who has held a number of reporting and editing roles.  She is best known for her insightful writing from assignments across sub-Saharan Africa, Papua New Guinea, rural and remote Australia, Antarctica and Afghanistan.  In 2009, she was recognised with a Walkley Award for commentary and analysis for pieces generated principally by her work in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Mozambique.  She was highly commended in the Quills Awards for a feature from the same trip.  Ms Chandler is the winner of the 2010 United Nations Association of Australia Media Peace Award for Best Feature (Print) for a piece on Australian aid in Afghanistan.

In May 2011, she published her first book, Feeling the Heat (MUP), which explores the frontiers of climate change by tracking scientific teams from Antarctica to the rainforests and coral reefs of the tropics.  The book was shortlisted in the Queensland Premier's Literary Prizes. She is also co-author of former Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon's memoir, Fair Cop (MUP).

Event flyer:   AIIAV 2011 Chandler Jo Ms 16.11.11 (131.36 kB)

Pre-payment welcomed, or payment at the door:

• AIIA members $20
• Non-members $30
• Student AIIA members $10
• Student non-members $15

If you plan to attend this function, please advise us at least 1 day before the event.

Refreshments will be served.