Hi everyone. This edition of JETAAWA News features plenty of goodies for the stocking:
1. Okamura Takao
2. Murdoch Japanese Studies Symposium
3. Volunteer interpreting
4. AJS Xmas Party
5. kaiWA
6. Website
7. Committee positions
8. Japanite
9. 2010 events
10. Anne Norman performances
1. Okamura Takao
As previously noted, Takao Okamura is one of Japan’s leading operatic basses. On Sunday 24 January, he is giving a free operatic and (interpreted) spoken-word performance at the UWA Octagon. Tickets are now available – check out the flyer: Okamura Takao Concert
2. Murdoch Symposium
On Tuesday 15 December from 10-1245, the Hyogo Centre in City Beach is hosting the 5th Murdoch University Japanese Studies Symposium. Four academics will be presenting on the topic Catastrophe, Ritual and Renewal in Japan, 1923-1957. Details are available here: Murdoch Symposium flyer. RSVPs are due this Thursday 10 December.
3. Volunteer interpreting
A delegation from Adachi Ward (Tokyo) is visiting its sister city, Belmont, from 14-18 January 2010. Jan Teasdale of the Sister City Association proposes:
We have quite a delightful itinerary planned for them. To ensure they enjoy an interactive time whilst here in Belmont & WA, we are looking to invite Japanese or Australian people who speak good Japanese, to converse with the Adachi citizens.
We shall call these people volunteer interpreters. They would need to be fluent in English and Japanese.
The main aim would be to be part of the itinerary activities, answer questions and to assist in conversation between Australian and Japanese visitors from Adachi,
The itinerary would include a welcome and farewell function, an afternoon at Perth Racing, A day touring the Swan Valley. The extensions to Adachi Park will also be opened.
There would be no payment, but the functions and outings would not have a charge. We have done this in the past and it has been most successful.
If you are interested – and we hope some JETAAWA members will be – please contact Jan or on 9470 2664.
4. AJS Xmas party
Representatives from JETAAWA attended the Australia-Japan Society Xmas Party on Friday 4 December. As always, the dinner was wonderful, entertaining, and packed with prizes! JETAAWA managed to win the quiz and the paper plane and samurai origami competitions and received a cellarful of wine! Thanks again to AJS and its sponsors for a great night.
5. kaiWA
One more kaiWA left for 2009, to be held from 530 at 43 Below on Thursday 19 December. We’ll let you know about 2010 kaiWA soon!
6. Website
The new JETAAWA website is a short time away from public release. Stay tuned!
7. Committee positions
Thanks to those who have already expressed interest. For others:
As always, every position on the JETAAWA Committee is open for nomination, to be decided at the AGM in March 2010. This year we have a President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, Social Rep, Promos Rep, Careers Rep and Media Rep, as well as several General Members.
In the coming year, we are also going to be looking for a Webmaster (which won’t take much work as the new site is just about ready to go!) and again, plenty of General Members to enjoy the perks of being a committee member without any fixed responsibility.
Please let us know if you are interested in a position, and please don’t be shy just because someone else is either currently in the position or has already nominated for it! Most committee members do a bit of everything so in the end it’s just a title.
Benefits of being a committee member include invitations to functions attended by dignitaries, business leaders and other exciting types; subsidised dinner once a month for meetings; a chance to plan out and implement JETAAWA events for the year; and of course, the opportunity to stay involved with a program that has given us so much! It also looks good on your CV, as we can all attest.
The added bonus is that it is quite likely we will be hosting the ANZ Regional Conference in Perth next year, so being on the committee will be a chance to get involved in that big event and stay in close contact with JET around the region and diplomats / politicians etc.
We look forward to hearing from you!
8. JapaNite
The last Japanite for the year is on Friday 18 December 2009 from 6:15pm at the Deen. As you can see from the flyer (http://wa.jetalumni.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/Japanite-flyer-light1.JPG), tickets are normally $8 in advance or $13 at the door. However, JETAAWA members and friends have been offered a special deal from our friends organising Japanite: $5/person entry! You need to email enjoyperth@hotmail.com with the full names of everyone attending – your name will then be on the door for the discounted entry fee on the night. RSVP closes 17 December.
9. 2010 events
Just to let you know in advance: in February 2010 we will hold our annual family BBQ at Kings Park, followed by the quiz night and AGM in March.
10. Anne Norman performances
Shakuhachi performer and author Anne Norman performed at the AJS Xmas Party on Friday and has the following events upcoming. See more detail on Anne (http://wa.jetalumni.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/author-Anne-Norman.doc), her book (http://wa.jetalumni.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/Book-Promo.doc) and her performances (http://wa.jetalumni.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/AbsurdCuriositea.pdf).
- Saturday 12th Dec at 1:30pm at the Bodhi Tree book shop on the Cnr Oxford St and Scarborough Beach Road, Mt Hawthorn, T: (08) 9444 9884 http://www.bodhitree.net.au/
- Saturday 12th Dec at 3pm Chatterbox Christmas Par-tea at the Hyogo Prefectural Government Cultural Centre , 20 Kalinda dve, City Beach. This is a free event, and will include Anne performing shakuhachi and doing readings from Curiosi-tea and a special tea tasting presented by Chigusa Haugen of Wasabi and Green Tea. If you are not a member, please call this number to make a booking. T: (08) 9385 9002 http://www.hyogo.com.au
- Sunday 13th Dec at 2:15pm An afternoon of Absurdi-tea
Poetry and music performed by Anne Norman (author of Curiosi-tea / shakuhachi musician)
with the very talented pianist / percussionist Steve Richter (Mr. Sister, Taal Naan, and Wu Tao Dance)
and the amazing percussionist / tap dancer Marcus Perrozzi (Tetrafide Percussion).
For the absurdly cheap entrance fee of $10 …a veritable gift!
at the Old Bakery, 42 Eighth Ave, Maylands in their 12th annual teapot exhibition
Easy access by train to Maylands Station or bus or car via Guildford Rd. Street parking available in 8th Ave or behind Post Office off 9th Ave. Bookings and enquiries: 08 9370 3308.
Have a good Xmas and see you in 2010!
Nick John
President
JETAAWA