LAUNCH OF “LE HAVRE, AUSTRALIAN STOPOVER” – AUSTRALIA NOW FRANCE 2021-22

Australian Ambassador to France and Honorary President of ABIE France, H.E. Gillian Bird PSM was in Le Havre this weekend to launch “Le Havre, Australian stopover”, a rich and varied programme of events on Australia and its links to this city, organised as part of Australia now France 2021-22.

During her visit, Ambassador Bird was hosted by the Mayor of Le Havre and former French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe, who is a long-standing friend of Australia. They discussed a range of topics including the Australia now 2021-22 programme and the Australia-EU FTA.

ABIE France President and CEO International at Keolis Group, Bernard Tabary, also attended the launch. Keolis, which has a significant presence in Australia, is an official partner of Australia now 2021-22.

Mayor Édouard Philippe and Ambassador Bird visited the Muséum d’histoire naturelle du Havre, which is currently exhibiting 220 drawings by Charles-Alexandre Lesueur and Nicolas-Martin Petit from Baudin’s expedition to Australia (1800-1804), alongside contemporary Australian creations.

The visit continued to the Abbaye de Graville, which is hosting two exhibitions: “Australia, beyond the Dream – Art of Papunya”, looking at the Western Desert Art Movement in the 1970s and “Australia, beyond the Dream – Kulata Tjuta”, which focuses on the engagement of Indigenous elders from the APY lands to maintain and pass on their culture and traditions to the younger generation.

For more information about “Le Havre, Australian stopover”, click HERE.