Young Historian of the Year award
The It's Time Xmas Gift Range
ALP Abroad: Membership renewals
International Projects: Latest report
National Labor Women's Network Conference
Vale Frank Crean
Posted 2 December 2008
Kevin Rudd says:
"Today the Australian Parliament and the Australian Labor Party mourn the passing of the Honourable Frank Crean. Mr Crean passed away peacefully today aged 92, as the oldest former member of the Australian Federal Parliament.
"Frank Crean was a genuine Labor legend, he played a seminal role in Labor politics helping build and rebuild the Party in some of its darkest days, and served as one of the finest ministers in the Whitlam Government. After service in the Victorian Legislative Assembly, Mr Crean was first elected as the Federal Member for Melbourne Ports in 1951.
"On the election of the Whitlam Government in 1972, Mr Crean entered Cabinet as Treasurer, delivering the first Labor Budget after 23 years in opposition. Following a period as Minister for Overseas Trade, in 1975 Mr Crean was appointed to the position of Deputy Prime Minister of Australia.
"During the life of the Whitlam Government, Frank Crean’s dedication, determination and commitment to his beliefs was legendary. At the 1977 election Mr Crean retired, having served the people of Melbourne Ports and the people of Australia with great distinction for 26 years. It is testament to his passion and enduring commitment to Labor values that Frank Crean continued attending local branch meetings well into his twilight years.
"Frank Crean was the patriarch of a great Labor family with two sons also serving as Ministers in Labor Governments, including my cabinet colleague and friend, the Trade Minister Simon Crean. My sincere condolences go to his family and friends, in particular his wife Mary, who shared a partnership and life together with Frank over 63 years of marriage.
"The Australian Labor Party and people of Australia owe Frank Crean a significant debt of gratitude for his contribution to Australian public life."
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Young Historian of the Year award
Posted 1 December 2008
Alice Dawkins one
of the youngest members of the South Australian branch of the party. She has
been awarded Young Historian of the Year 2008 for
South
Australia and the
Northern
Territory. Her
2,500 word essay on John Curtin with the theme “Australia Meets the World” won
in three categories.
The National
History Challenge is a research-based competition for students from years 5 –
12. It is run by the History Teachers’
Association. The competition gives students an opportunity to be historians and
investigate their community and explore their own past. It emphasises and rewards quality research,
and the use of community resources and effective presentation.
Alice is a
year 10 student at
Loreto
College in
Adelaide.
She won the Year 9/10 category, the best essay on John Curtin from years 8 – 12
in the State and the best essay across all categories in the
South
Australia and the
Northern
Territory. Dr John
Bannon, former South Australian Premier, and President of the History Council
of SA, presented
Alice
with her awards and medals. As part of
her prize,
Alice will go to
Canberra
for three days touring the sights and visiting the
Australian
Museum,
National Library, National Archives and the Australian War Memorial. A national
award ceremony will be held on Tuesday 25 November, at Parliament House.
Alice’s father, John Dawkins is a former Federal Treasurer, and like John Curtin, a former member for Fremantle. He is pictured with John Bannon and Alice. John Dawkins will be present at the ceremony at Parliament House. Alice has a keen interest in History and enjoys writing. She lives on the family vineyard at Eden Valley where Alice has her own ponies and horses. Alice is proud to be “a card carrying” member of the party.
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The It's Time Xmas Gift Range
Posted 30 November 2008
Looking for that unique Christmas gift? Then choose from the Whitlam Institute It's Time gift range. It has something for everyone. For the collector, you can choose from our limited edition signed scrolls and books of the famous 1972 Blacktown policy speech, stamps, etchings and paintings of Mr Whitlam Your purchase will help the Institute continue its work into 2009. The Whitlam Institute is custodian to the Whitlam Prime Ministerial Collection and strives to be a leading national centre for public policy development and debate.
For more info, visit: http://www.whitlam.org/whitlam/
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Posted 12 November 2008
Christmas Party
This will be
again be at the Blue Posts following our successful buffet last
year. Entry
includes a generous meal with drinks available for purchase
from the bar. If
your renew your membership for 2009 you will have free
entry. Details at http://www.alpabroad.org/news/2439.html
Membership renewal 2009
You can now renew for 2009 as
like the ALP our membership runs from December
1 each year. Membership
entitles you to discounted entry to events and a
chance to be involved in the
running of ALP Abroad.You can renew here
http://www.alpabroad.org/multiattachments/2375.html
Continuing Regional Democratic Development
By Michael Morgan, Director, International Projects
Posted 17 October 2008
In the last quarter we have delivered a series of projects designed to build partnerships with our counterparts and strengthen political parties in our region.
We have strengthened ties with our counterparts around the world. Australian Labor has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU: http://www.ip.alp.org.au/news/1008/alts17-08.php) with the Labour Party (UK) to further dialogue and exchange on key issues facing Australia and the world.
A special focus of our recent activities has been political party strengthening in Melanesia.
On 18 August IPDC Member Richard Marles launched the Political Parties and Groupings of Vanuatu, First Edition, in Port Vila.
On Wednesday 17 September I presented the lunchtime address to the Lowy Institute on Campaigns and Democracy in Melanesia. A copy of my presentation is available. This was followed by a roundtable on Political Party Reform in Melanesia also hosted by The Lowy Institute for International Policy. Included in the roundtable were myself, Derek Brien, Director of Communications with the Pacific Institute of Public Policy, and Odo Tevi, Governor of the Reserve Bank of Vanuatu.
From 24 to 26 September, former Labor Minister Susan Ryan, AO, took part in discussions on legislative measures to strengthen political parties in the Solomon Islands.
From 25 to 26 September, Lesley Clark contributed to the Pacific Islands Forum Pacific Gender Workshop. Read her report here.
Also former International Secretary Michael Beahan joins our team to provide coverage of campaigns and elections from around the world.
International Projects continues to provide programs aimed at strengthening political parties, helping us to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Visit our site and read about these and other
activities International Projects has been engaged in and read the latest from
our Foreign Affairs team; Minister for Foreign Affairs Stephen
Smith reports on Asia Today, Bob
McMullan writes from Africa on our
development assistance program including the innovative footyWild initiative, and Duncan
Kerr reports on Partnering for the Pacific.
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Senator Penny Wong in London
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NLWN Conference
The National Labor Women's Network will hold their
2008 Conference in Sydney on 27 and 28 September. The Conference is a great
opportunity for Labor Women to meet and network, to learn new skills and to hear
from other inspirational women. For more info, visit: http://lwn.alp.org.au/