Rotary Club of Matilda Bay Exchange Student Consular Reception

Honorary Consul Mr Torsten Ketelsen with German rotary exchange students
Honorary Consul Mr Torsten Ketelsen with German rotary exchange students

The Honorary Consul of The Federal Republic of Germany Mr Torsten Ketelsen attended a reception at Parliament House on Friday 12th February 2016 for the Matilda Bay inbound rotary exchange students in Western Australia. The reception was hosted by the President of the Upper House of the Western Australian Parliament the Honourable Barry House MLC.  Mr Ketelsen met four German students currently undertaking their exchange program in Western Australia.


International Food Festival

Logo International Food Festival 2015

Perth celebrated it’s multiculturalism with international food stalls and cultural performances at the World of Food Festival on 22nd November. The festival is presented by the Consular Corps of Western Australia and supported by Lotterywest and the Office of Multicultural Affairs. The Honorary German consulate was one of 38 international food stalls at the festival. On offer were traditional German foods and desserts all within the beautiful surrounds of Government House Gardens.

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Opening of the new premises of The German Honorary Consulate Perth

Kons 2The Honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany, Mr Torsten Ketelsen, held an official opening of the new consular premises in West Perth on Monday 2 November 2015. The building was officially opened by His Excellency Dr Christoph Muller the German Ambassador to Australia. Mr Peter Abetz MLA representing the Premier of Western Australia and The Honourable Sue Ellery MLC representing the Honourable Mark McGowan both presented a speech to mark the occasion. The event was attended by members of the German business community, consular corps, government departments, language teachers and other members of the community.

The new building of the German Honorary consulate provides greater accessibility, more working space and improved facilities which support the honorary consulates work; to provide consular information and services as well as promote German language and culture in Western Australia. The new premises is equipped to provide the biometric service required for new passport applications with applicants no longer needing to travel interstate to obtain a new passport. The premises is also equipped to support community events and German language classes for the wider community. This includes facilitation of The German Language Round Table, an initiative to promote German language in Western Australian Schools, other institutions and within the wider community.

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Presentation of Certificates at Baldivis Primary School Assembly

IMG_7657The Honorary consul of The Federal Republic of Germany in Perth, Mr Torsten Ketelsen, attended the school assembly of Baldivis Primary School on 25th October 2015.  Mr Ketelsen presented students from the German Language program with certificates in recognition of their German language learning.

Baldivis Primary School has a strong and innovative German language program developed by their German Language Teacher Helen Kuehs. All students at the school from Kindergarten to Year 7 learn German as a second language with German language actively integrated into other learning areas. Ms Kuehs developed the German School Kitchen Garden program where students can learn about growing food, cooking, insects and other related topics, uniquely integrating aspects of science, mathematics and information technology into the German language lessons. Approximately 200 students at the school take part in the program.

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