AIIA Victoria News November / December 2011

NOTE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Well the countdown is now well and truly on to Christmas and the New Year.  I take this opportunity to wish you all seasons greetings and a happy and successful year in 2012.

As you are no doubt aware the Institute has lost its senior Patron with the passing of Sir Zelman Cowen.  Sir Zelman was a remarkable Australian whose impact was enormous as Governor-General, educator, legal authority, internationalist and humanist.  His name will live on for us in the Sir Zelman Cowen Oration, our annual flagship event.  On your behalf I wrote expressing our condolences to Lady Cowen and members of Sir Zelman’s family and represented the Institute at the State Funeral for him.

Following our very successful festive lunch at which Professor Michael L’Estrange AO spoke about the challenges of managing future foreign and defence policy in the Asia Pacific region, we have begun planning for another dynamic program in 2012.  This kicks off on 1 February with a discussion by Dr Sally Totman of Deakin University of the achievements and prospects of the Arab Spring.  Sally was a very popular speaker during 2011 and I am sure that she will start the year with a stimulating analysis.

Next year also sees our China study tour (which was oversubscribed) setting sail in May, and we look forward to another active program for 2012.  Should any of you be interested and available to participate in organising activities such as the International Careers Conference and the VCE lecture series, we would welcome your call.   We need volunteers with enthusiasm and grunt to help us keep up the momentum of our programs.