Semester 1 2004 forum dates, speakers and panellists

We have an exciting and varied range of guests and student panellists lined up for semester one. The students will be discussing issues such as Aboriginal reconciliation, citizenship, party politics and the role of cartoonists in a democracy. The students themselves are from the Northern Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory.

Keep visiting the site during this semester to find out more about the students, their guests and how the forums turn out.

SEMESTER ONE FORUMS

Guest: The Hon. Larry Anthony MP, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

Student panellists

From left to right: Alex Frain, Luke Bo'sher, Alyx Gorman Photos (left and right): Gabrielle Tramby / Photo (centre): Dragi Markovic

• Alex Frain, Year 12, Launceston Church Grammar School, Tasmania
• Luke Bo'sher, Year 12, Melbourne High School, Victoria
• Alyx Gorman, Year 10, Canberra High School, Australian Capital Territory

Australian/USA forum 'What is a good citizen?'

Guest: Ramu Damodaran

Ramu Damodaran, a native of India, is currently editor in chief of the UN Chronicle. He was a freelance journalist and radio/television producer for All India Radio and Hindustan Times Evening News from 1972 to 1986. He also served as second secretary for the Indian Embassy in Moscow from 1980 to 1982, and as first secretary for the permanent mission to the United Nations with specific responsibilities for the Fourth Committee of the General Assembly, Special Committee on Decolonization, from 1986 to 1989. Damodaran became political affairs officer at the Department of Special Political Questions with responsibilities relating to Namibia and Western Sahara in 1989, and secretary of the United Nations Iraq Kuwait Observation Mission with the Executive Office of the Secretary General in 1991. More recently, Damodaran has served as senior focal point and liaison officer with the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations, as senior officer in the Executive Office of the United Nations Secretary General, and as private secretary/executive assistant to the prime minister of India.

Washington DC panel

• Spencer Irvine, Year 10, John F Kennedy High School
• Whitney Soble, Year 10, Thomas Jefferson School for Science and Technology
• Thomas Meyer, Year 11, Montgomery Blair High School

Canberra panel

From left to right: Jo Hanna Werts, Matthew Leung and Michaela Flanigan Photo: Dragi Markovic

• Jo Hanna Werts, Year 11, Merici College
• Matthew Leung, Year 12, Radford College
• Michaela Flanigan, Year 10, Canberra College

Guest: Senator Aden Ridgeway, Senator for NSW

Student panellists

From left to right: Briana Roberts, Mathew Bock, Kendall Rolley Photo: Gabrielle Tramby

• Briana Roberts, Year 12, Maranatha College, Victoria
• Mathew Bock, Year 12, Casuarina Senior College, Northern Territory
• Kendall Rolley, Year 12, Grace Lutheran College, Queensland

Collaborative program with the Powerhouse Museum on the theme of gambling

Guest: Senator Andrew Bartlett, Leader of the Australian Democrats

Student panellists

From left to right: Jenny Lim, Paul Mackay, Amelia Marshall Photo: Dragi Markovic

• Jenny Lim, Year 11, Sydney PLC, New South Wales
• Paul Mackay, Year 12, Baulkham Hills High School, New South Wales
• Amelia Marshall, Year 11, Baulkham Hills High School, New South Wales

Guest: Geoff Pryor, cartoonist, Canberra Times

Student panellists

From left to right: Verity Doyle, Chris Moore, Celia Tier Photo: Gabrielle Tramby

• Verity Doyle, Year 12, Stuartholme School, Queensland
• Chris Moore, Year 12, Caringbah Selective High School, New South Wales
• Celia Tier, Year 12, PLC Armidale, New South Wales

Guest: The Hon. Carmen Lawrence MP, Member for Fremantle and National President of the Australian Labor Party

Student panellists

From left to right: Claire Park, Josh McCann, Anna Hall Photo: Gabrielle Tramby

• Claire Park, Year 12, Moreton Bay College, Queensland
• Josh McCann, Year 12, Casuarina Senior College, Northern Territory
• Anna Hall, Year 12, Presbyterian Ladies College, Victoria