Ambon

Indonesia Sister City

Current Projects

Ambon students and teacher meet the Lord Mayor On the 11th of August 2011, Lord Mayor Graeme Sawyer and the Ambon Sister City Community Committee hosted a reception for two visiting exchange students and teacher from SMA Negeri 5 School in Ambon. Council had been pursuing this exchange for a number of months, so we were delighted when it came to fruition. Sally (student), Mathilda (student) and Johanis (teacher) were generously hosted by Kormilda College where they participated in Darwin school life and improved their English skills. Click here to see photos from the reception. Read page four of Kormilda News to see an article about their visit to Kormilda.

Click here to see photos of our reception for visiting Ambonese exchange students in 2010.

Zeth wows the crowd Wonderful Maluku 2011, held 21 July 2011, was a celebration of Indonesian food and culture. Preceding the Darwin to Ambon Yacht Race, the inagural event gave race goers and the Darwin community a sample of the food, dance, costume, singing and fashion of the Maluku region. Spectators watched fabulous traditional dancers and were serenaded by Indonesian Idol 2010 winner, Igo. Council's Ambon Sister City Community Committee invited legendary Ambonese musician Zeth Lekatompessy to Darwin especially for the event and his performance did not dissapoint. Wonderful Maluku was a fantastic example of sharing cultures and Council is proud to be a part of this event. Many thanks to the Indonesian Consulate for hosting the event. Click here to see photos of the event.

Background and History

Ambon Markets The proximity of Indonesia to Darwin and the large Asian community in Darwin form the foundation of our affiliation. Three Indonesian cities were considered before Ambon was selected, Ambon, Kupang (now a Sister City to Palmerston, Darwin's neighbouring city) and Ujung-Pandang. The affiliation received great support from the Indonesian Consul, the Australian Ambassador in Jakarta, the Australian Indonesian Association in Darwin and the Darwin community.

Ambon Markets The links between Darwin and Ambon date as far back as World War II and annual delegations have taken place to Ambon to commemorate ANZAC Day. Links were strengthened by the annual Darwin/Ambon International Yacht Race that ran with great success for many years resulting in close friendships between the two communities.

Successful programs between the two cities have included teacher and student exchanges, a librarian exchange achieved through a grant of $3,000 from the Rotary Club of Darwin North, a "Gifts for Neighbours Project" in cooperation with the Lioness Club of Casuarina, donations of books to the Ambon Public Library and the University Library transported without charge by Merpati Airlines and a grant of $5,872 from the Australian Indonesian Institute to help fund a visit by a cultural dance group from Ambon toperform in Darwin.

Numerous delegations have occurred in both directions including in October 1988 Lord Mayor Alec Fong Lim leading a delegation of 21 persons to Ambon for 4 days to sign a "Letter of Intent" and in July 1989 when Darwin welcomed its biggest delegation ever of 52 Ambonese.

In October 2003, City of Darwin worked collaboratively with an aid organisation to provide much needed assistance in the form of a solutions package to a rabies emergency, which struck the city of Ambon, and at the time of program implementation, had already left 10 people dead. The program was delivered by Medecins Sans Frontiers through their aid office in Ambon following the commitment of $6,000 in Lord Mayor appeal funds. Community fundraising for Ambon commenced in 1999 after violence broke out in Ambon, leaving the city in turmoil.

In 2004, to commemorate the lifting of the 'State of Emergency' in Ambon, City of Darwin brought a highly acclaimed photographic exhibition entitled 'Reborn - Ambon after the Conflict' to Darwin. The photographer, Jakarta based Mr Tantyo Bangun, accompanied the exhibition as a guest of City of Darwin. The exhibition portrayed the plight of the People of Ambon and emanated hope out of devastation, providing the Darwin community with a tangible illustration of the situation faced by Ambon. During this time, City of Darwin welcomed a delegation from the Ambon Mayor revitalising the sister city relationship and strengthening ties for the bright new future Ambon is now embarking on.

In 2010, Lord Mayor Graeme Sawyer traveled to Ambon to officiate in the renewed Darwin - Ambon Yacht Race and Council's Ambon Sister City Community Committee is establishing a perpetual trophy to the now invigorated Darwin - Ambon Yacht Race.