The German Language Round Table group had the pleasure of welcoming Ms Sonja Griegoschewski the Director of the Goethe-Institut Australia to a Round Table meeting on Thursday 21st July. The group discussed avenues of support and collaboration with the Goethe-Institut to bring German films and culture to Western Australia. The planning of a number of new German film events for both school children and adults is underway with a German Film Workgroup set up to take charge of the task.

For more information on the German Language Round Table see our website page

The Richard Wagner Society of WA celebrated the 30th anniversary of its foundation with a gala event on Sunday 24th July at the University of Western Australia School of Music. The Honorary Consul, Torsten Ketelsen, attended the event at which distinguished conductor Simone Young gave a special presentation. Among other topics, Simone spoke about her decade as Music Director and General Director of Hamburg Opera.

The West Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPPA) hosted a function to welcome four prominent German music academics working in networking performance. The Honorary Consul, Torsten Ketelsen, attended the event on Tuesday July 19th to celebrate the arrival of the German musicians and meet the WAAPA Research team. The event was supported by Universities Australia and the German Academic Exchange Service (DADD).

The Honorary Consul, Mr Torsten Ketelsen, attended the In Unison 2016 Business After Hours event at Picton Press Pty Ltd on 14th July 2016. Guests at the event had the opportunity to see the revolutionary new printing press machinery from Germany at the Picton Press Pty Ltd premises in West Perth. An impressive example of cooperation and investment between Germany and Western Australia.

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.

Perth celebrated it’s multiculturalism with international food stalls and cultural performances at the World of Food Festival on 22^nd 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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The Honorary Consul of The Federal Republic of Germany Mr Torsten Ketelsen and The Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany His Excellency Dr Christoph Muller inspected the ship building facilities at Austral Shipyard in Henderson Western Australia on 2 November 2015.

The 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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The Honorary consul of The Federal Republic of Germany in Perth, Mr Torsten Ketelsen, attended the school assembly of Baldivis Primary School on 25^th 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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