October 2014

Melbourne Humboldt Kolleg/Joint RSV Symposium

The Humboldt Kolleg/Joint Symposium entitled Celebration of German Contributions to Australian Science and Victorian Scientific Institutions - Past and Present. was organised jointly by the Australian Association of von Humboldt Fellows (AAvHF) and the Royal Society of Victoria (RSV) and was held at the Royal Society of Victoria, 8 La Trobe Street, Melbourne, from 1st to 3rd October, 2014.

Download the full report here

Download the booklet here

September 2014

Victorian Celebration of Alexander von Humboldts Birthdate – 2014

As so often happens, on account of the busy schedules of certain interested participants, the annual Humboldt birthday celebration in Melbourne this year was planned for Tuesday, 23^rd September, rather than 14^th.  In mid-August, my wife, Jill, noticed an advertisement in The Age for a new restaurant called Munich Brauhaus which was about to open in Docklands.  With such a name, I thought this would be an ideal venue for our annual celebration. So I made a booking for the night which suited those with whom I had initially consulted.  The usual notice went out to the Victorian membership list and a date set for the confirmation of numbers with the new restaurant.  Alas, when I telephoned on that date I was told that the Munich Brauhaus does not open on a Tuesday night and that the person who had taken my booking was no longer in employment at the restaurant.

Mild panic!  An immediate telephone call to my good friend, Roger, Manager at the Swiss Club in Flinders Lane, Melbourne, a few urgent telephone calls plus a couple of emails, and all was solved. 

As you can judge from the photograph, the celebration was enjoyed by the usual relatively small number.  There were a few apologies, perhaps on account of the imminent Humboldt Kolleg/Joint Symposium between our Association and the Royal Society of Victoria, entitled Celebration of German Contributions to Australian Science and Victorian Scientific Institutions – Past and Present (1^st-3^rd October, 2014). But our Treasurer, Professor Gary Bryant and his wife, Siham, were delighted that they could again share a Fondue, and the usual exchanges concerning recent social travels, conferences and research results, over mostly Swiss but partly Southern German dishes, resulted in a most enjoyable evening.

Our thanks were due to Roger for accommodating us again at the Swiss Club, but this time at such short notice.

Victorian celebration of Humboldts birthday, at the Swiss Club, Melbourne, Tuesday, 23^rd September, 2014.
Back Row (LR): John Nelson, Gabrielle McMullen, Jill Finlayson, Jared Cole, Gary Bryant, Robin Hill
Front Row (LR): Jiami Zhang, Siham Bryant, Trevor Finlayson

September 2013

AvH Birthday Dinner Celebration – 24th September, 2013

It was our pleasure to welcome the Honorary Consul for Victoria, Michael Pearce SC and his partner, Shaorong Baggio, the recently appointed DAAD Lecturer at Monash University, Imke Schmidt, as well as the DAAD Lecturer at the University of Melbourne, Tina Stubenrauch.  Indeed, Tina has become a regular participant for this event since arriving in Melbourne from Germany over three years ago.

The larger-than-usual number this year necessitated the use of two adjacent tables as shown in the accompanying pictures. Some opted for a typically Swiss Fondue although other dishes which may have had Swiss names could well have been Southern German with spätzle a common addition to the plate. Conversation seemed to range from politics, with the German Federal election and the future of Chancellor Angela Merkel delicately poised at the time, through religion, education, the state of Australian university funding, etc., to sport with the AFL Grand Final only a few days away and an exciting Ashes Cricket tour due to commence a few weeks into the future.  Other discussions were concerned with the forthcoming Humboldt Colloquium and plans for this seemed, for those involved, to be falling into place. 

There was general agreement at the end of the evening that the venue, while not German, was most acceptable.  The young waitress who attended to most of our requests was a recently arrived German.  We were not the only group in the Club on the evening but it was pleasantly quiet, allowing uninterrupted discussion.  As usual there were no formalities other than the toast to Alexander von Humboldt.
 

Trevor Finlayson

October 2011

Victorian Celebration of AvH Birthday

While it is customary to hold this celebration as close as possible to 14^th September each year, the pending visit to Melbourne by Dr. Katrin Amian during the week following the Fourteenth Biennial AAvHF Conference in Sydney (20^th September to 2^nd October, 2011) seemed a valid reason to delay the celebration till Thursday, 6^th October, so that we could share the celebration with Dr. Amian. Katrins visit to Melbourne followed her time in Canberra in order to attend the launch of Science Circle at the Australian National University on 4^th October, by Australias Chief Scientist, Professor Ian Chubb. Science Circle is an initiative involving both the German Embassy in Canberra under Ambassador Dr. Christoph Müller and its counterpart in Germany, under Ambassador Dr. Peter Tesch.

Dr. Amian was hosted at the University of Melbourne by the University Research Office and her lecture presentation on Thursday, 6^th October, concerning opportunities for research fellowships and awards with the AvHF had been coordinated by Mr. Adrian Collins, an officer in the Research Office responsible for international research relationships.  It was pleasing to see a very significant number of early-career researchers in a crowded lecture theatre for Dr. Amians presentation and some lively discussion and many questions from the audience followed her formal presentation.  She delivered a similar presentation at Monash University on the following day, prior to visiting the Australian Synchrotron at Clayton.

A most pleasant AvH Birthday Celebration was held at Muttis Restaurant, Elgin Street, Carlton following Dr. Amians presentation at the University of Melbourne. A comfortable number of Humboldtians and partners had signed up for the celebration dinner, as well as Tina Stubenrauch, the DAAD Lecturer at the University of Melbourne. An enjoyable evening was had by all present, and some lively discussion was held throughout the dinner.

Dr. Katrin Amian speaking on opportunities for research fellowships and awards with the AvHF at the University of Melbourne, 6^th October, 2011.

Humboldtian Professor Paul Mulvany and his wife Genevieve were late arrivals following a prior commitment at the University.  As on previous occasions at Muttis restaurant, owner, Ulrich, was his usual welcoming and obliging self. We recommend Muttis to any AAvHF members who happen to be visiting Melbourne and looking for an excellent German lunch or dinner.

Dr. Amian returned to Bonn on a late Friday night flight, after a rather exhausting week of commitments in Australia, but clearly appreciative of the opportunity to have celebrated an AvH Birthday with Humboldtians in Melbourne.

L-R: Prof. Alison Lewis, Adrian Collins, Dr. Katrin Amian, Prof. Gary Bryant, Dr. John Nelson, Dr. Geoffrey Crisp, Sihan Bryant, Dr. Rolf Beilharz, Tina Stubenrauch, A/Prof. Trevor Finlayson, Prof. Gabrielle McMullen, Joyce Nelson and Jill Finlayson.

September 2010

Celebration of Birthdate of Alexander von Humboldt

On Thursday, 16 September, 2010, the usual small group of Melbourne-based Fellows and some of their partners gathered at Muttis Restaurant for the annual celebration of the birthdate of Alexander von Humboldt.  All were conscious of the fact that the celebration dinner should have been two days earlier but, unfortunately, Muttis Restaurant, a more recently established restaurant in Elgin Street with an excellent Southern German-style cuisine, does not open on a Tuesday and the opportunity to hold our birthday celebrations with Muttis owner, Ulrich, and his staff, seemed too good to miss.  Ulrich takes pride in his own German-style beer which is specially brewed and supplied to him (according to his instructions) by a small Melbourne brewer. It is indeed an excellent drop!