Australian Consulate General in Makassar Marks 10th Anniversary

RRI.CO.ID, Makassar - The Australian Consulate General in Makassar commemorated its 10th anniversary with a series of community-focused events designed to reinforce bilateral relations and cultural exchange between Australia and eastern Indonesia.

Among the highlighted events include a storytelling session on Marege, recounting the historic ties between the Makassar people and the Aboriginal communities of Australia.

“The Consulate General has been in Makassar since 2016 to strengthen bilateral relations between Australia and eastern Indonesia, including South Sulawesi and surrounding regions,” Australian Consul General Todd Dias said in Makassar, South Sulawesi, on Saturday, January 24, as quoted by Antara.

Dias explained that the storytelling, presented by the Marege Institute, was centered on the traditional Makassar sailing vessel, the Padewakang. Guided by the western monsoon winds across the Makassar Strait, the vessel once reached the northern shores of Marege, which today is known as Arnhem Land in Australia’s Northern Territory.

Since the 17th century, Makassar sailors have undertaken these long voyages not only to harvest sea commodities such as trepang (beche-de-mer), but also to build genuine trade relations and bonds of friendship with Australia’s Indigenous peoples, particularly the Yolngu community.

The anniversary program featured a series of activities aimed at fostering closer ties between communities, especially between Australian alumni and local residents of Makassar.

Among the highlights were a gala dinner and alumni gathering, where members of OzAlum shared experiences, alongside booths showcasing products from local MSME partners.

Consul General Todd Dias expressed high appreciation, noting that Aboriginal Australians have long known and befriended the Makassar people.

President of the Australian Alumni Association (IKA) in South Sulawesi, Jamaluddin Jompa, emphasized the alumni’s ongoing contribution to bilateral relations.

“Bilateral ties between Australia and Indonesia, especially with Makassar, have existed since before independence. That is why we must continue to preserve and strengthen this relationship,” he said. ***