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Lucky country on target at Expo site
By Wu Zheng |
June 28, 2009, Sunday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
PETER Tesch (pictured left) was no stranger to World Expo when he was appointed as commissioner-general for Australia's exhibition at the forthcoming Expo 2010 in Shanghai.
He enjoyed World Expo 88 when his hometown, Brisbane, hosted the event and was part of the Australian team for the Expo 2000 Hannover.
Now, he is charged with the responsibilities of making Australia Pavilion one of the most outstanding national pavilions for Expo Shanghai 2010.
He and his team envision their pavilion as a place for people to interact, learn and have fun.
Last week in his Canberra office in the Australian Government's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, he talked about the progress of preparations and his vision for the Shanghai event.
Q: Can you update us on the construction of Australia Pavilion?
A: The pavilion was topped out on May 8 and we are continuing to make exceptional progress on the physical construction of the pavilion. Most of the structural steel around the front is up now. Concrete slabs have been pulled into key areas of the pavilion. The external steel skin, or facade, of the pavilion is being loaded and shipped from Australia. It has got a very identifiable shape. Importantly, we are on schedule.
Q: Have you started the process of selecting exhibits?
A: The centerpiece of this pavilion is the big theater where we will show the audio and visual stories of Australia. A film crew is actually traveling around Australia as we speak, shooting the images. We got an e-mail from them on the northwest coast of Australia, a very pleasant part of the country called Cable Beach near Broome. They promise us they are working very hard. That's also on schedule.
We are also about to commence filming in Australia a number of interviews that form a part of a program we call "Sisters," with which we are going to tell the stories of women in China and Australia whose activities have made a difference.
The idea there is that we are going to select 12 pairs of women who have similar profiles and backgrounds, one in China and the other in Australia, and have them tell their stories about what they are doing and how their achievements are helping the creation of a better city, better life.
Other things that are also well underway are the development of our cultural program. That's going to have three parts: the residents' performance in the pavilion, the program activities on our National Day, and then the groups of visiting and touring performers. We are still working through some options there.
Q: The Australian government is seeking up to US$22 million in private sponsorship. How much has been secured so far?
A: We are very close to US$10 million cash sponsorship at the moment and feeling comfortable where we are. The response from the Australian corporate sector has been encouraging. And the states and territories, too, are very conscious of the opportunities here and the need to see it as an investment in the future, not a cost against the present.
Q: How do you evaluate Shanghai's preparation for World Expo?
A: It is very impressive. I think the authorities have done a great deal of very high-quality work in what is a relatively short period.
Q: Has the recruitment for people working at the pavilion started?
A: Across the whole pavilion, there will be around 200 staff. We want to have a good number of Australians who will enthusiastically represent us. But we will also be recruiting in China, both among the Chinese community and the expat community.
Q: The original Expos were held when international travel was rare. Now, in an age of global travel and the Internet, some people argue that Expo is an outdated idea. What do you think?
A: The fact that countries like Japan, China, South Korea and many other countries are still competing to host the Expo shows there's a strong view that these things have a role. Yes, you can access a lot of information on the Web, but Expo is much more about that sense of engagement and being able to connect with the people, the culture, the food and the beverage of the world. In Shanghai, in six months, you will be able to go to one place, and experience the world.
The ability of these Expos to connect people with people is what makes them vital.
Q: In your view, what can be done to have a "better city, better life" (Expo Shanghai's theme)?
A: From my own experience of visiting and living in cities around the world, some of the most important things are to recognize that you have to work with the assets that you have. A lot of people think Australians are just being lucky. We've got a lovely climate, we have a fabulous landscape and beautiful coast. And we just sit here and don't have to do anything about it.
But the quality of life we have in this country that makes Australian cities consistently rank among the world's most livable cities is a product of choice and work. This is something that is not so well understood.
Where we live shapes how we live, but equally how we live shapes the environment in which we live.
He enjoyed World Expo 88 when his hometown, Brisbane, hosted the event and was part of the Australian team for the Expo 2000 Hannover.
Now, he is charged with the responsibilities of making Australia Pavilion one of the most outstanding national pavilions for Expo Shanghai 2010.
He and his team envision their pavilion as a place for people to interact, learn and have fun.
Last week in his Canberra office in the Australian Government's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, he talked about the progress of preparations and his vision for the Shanghai event.
Q: Can you update us on the construction of Australia Pavilion?
A: The pavilion was topped out on May 8 and we are continuing to make exceptional progress on the physical construction of the pavilion. Most of the structural steel around the front is up now. Concrete slabs have been pulled into key areas of the pavilion. The external steel skin, or facade, of the pavilion is being loaded and shipped from Australia. It has got a very identifiable shape. Importantly, we are on schedule.
Q: Have you started the process of selecting exhibits?
A: The centerpiece of this pavilion is the big theater where we will show the audio and visual stories of Australia. A film crew is actually traveling around Australia as we speak, shooting the images. We got an e-mail from them on the northwest coast of Australia, a very pleasant part of the country called Cable Beach near Broome. They promise us they are working very hard. That's also on schedule.
We are also about to commence filming in Australia a number of interviews that form a part of a program we call "Sisters," with which we are going to tell the stories of women in China and Australia whose activities have made a difference.
The idea there is that we are going to select 12 pairs of women who have similar profiles and backgrounds, one in China and the other in Australia, and have them tell their stories about what they are doing and how their achievements are helping the creation of a better city, better life.
Other things that are also well underway are the development of our cultural program. That's going to have three parts: the residents' performance in the pavilion, the program activities on our National Day, and then the groups of visiting and touring performers. We are still working through some options there.
Q: The Australian government is seeking up to US$22 million in private sponsorship. How much has been secured so far?
A: We are very close to US$10 million cash sponsorship at the moment and feeling comfortable where we are. The response from the Australian corporate sector has been encouraging. And the states and territories, too, are very conscious of the opportunities here and the need to see it as an investment in the future, not a cost against the present.
Q: How do you evaluate Shanghai's preparation for World Expo?
A: It is very impressive. I think the authorities have done a great deal of very high-quality work in what is a relatively short period.
Q: Has the recruitment for people working at the pavilion started?
A: Across the whole pavilion, there will be around 200 staff. We want to have a good number of Australians who will enthusiastically represent us. But we will also be recruiting in China, both among the Chinese community and the expat community.
Q: The original Expos were held when international travel was rare. Now, in an age of global travel and the Internet, some people argue that Expo is an outdated idea. What do you think?
A: The fact that countries like Japan, China, South Korea and many other countries are still competing to host the Expo shows there's a strong view that these things have a role. Yes, you can access a lot of information on the Web, but Expo is much more about that sense of engagement and being able to connect with the people, the culture, the food and the beverage of the world. In Shanghai, in six months, you will be able to go to one place, and experience the world.
The ability of these Expos to connect people with people is what makes them vital.
Q: In your view, what can be done to have a "better city, better life" (Expo Shanghai's theme)?
A: From my own experience of visiting and living in cities around the world, some of the most important things are to recognize that you have to work with the assets that you have. A lot of people think Australians are just being lucky. We've got a lovely climate, we have a fabulous landscape and beautiful coast. And we just sit here and don't have to do anything about it.
But the quality of life we have in this country that makes Australian cities consistently rank among the world's most livable cities is a product of choice and work. This is something that is not so well understood.
Where we live shapes how we live, but equally how we live shapes the environment in which we live.
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