South Australian Alumni Reception
Speech by
Australian Ambassador, H.E Bill Tweddell
23 March - Hanoi
• Ms Virginia Pattingale, Head of International at Flinders University, and fellow South Australian education representatives
• Australian Education International and StudyAdelaide colleagues
• Mr Tom Bowen from the South Australian Business Ambassadors Network
• Our many Adelaide alumni now in Hanoi
It gives me great pleasure to be here tonight, to help our South Australian education colleagues thank you for choosing to undertake part of your education in Adelaide.
I’m sure it is now many years since some of you were in Adelaide, but I want to assure you that when I was last there – 18 months ago – it was still the same healthy, friendly city that you will remember!
You will be proud to know that you were actually trail-blazers for a great number of international students from around the world.
In 2006, Adelaide was Australia’s fastest growing city for international students, with numbers of over 20,000 international students from more than 130 countries.
The number of students from Vietnam alone jumped 50%, to 471 students, making Vietnam Adelaide’s strongest growing market.
Just as you did during your time in Adelaide, international students are helping to make South Australia a more vibrant, multicultural city – adding greatly to the diversity of language, cuisine, art and culture.
Students such as yourselves help to broaden the minds of local Australian students and open their eyes to different views of the world.
And for that we say a sincere thank you.
I am sure that many of you have returned to great things in Hanoi – just as we know that Adelaide’s alumni, and alumni from other Australian institutions, from around the world have returned home to take on roles as diverse as politicians, astronauts, airline chiefs, and surgeons.
I hope that as you forge ahead with your careers, you take time to remember your time in South Australia and perhaps help to spread the word that Australia is a wonderful study destination.
Many of you I know will be joining us later this evening for the Vietnamese Graduates of Australia Club Gala Dinner. I look forward to seeing you there.
Enjoy your evening and thank you again for studying in South Australia and adding to the cultural richness of the city of Adelaide.
Thank you.