The Swiss Alliance Australia (SAA) was delighted to host the biennial Oceania Swiss Club Presidents’ Conference 2024 in November, bringing together Swiss community leaders and friends from across the Oceania region for three dynamic days in Sydney.
The program was filled with networking opportunities, engaging discussions, informative presentations, and a workshop exploring the conference theme: “Revitalising Tradition, Embracing Change: The Future of Swiss Clubs.”
Participants joined from New Zealand, Australia, and Thailand – including Swiss Club Presidents, members of the Council of the Swiss Abroad, and representatives from the Embassies of Australia and New Zealand, as well as the Consulate General in Sydney.
Friday 8 Nov 2024
The conference began at the Swissôtel with the Annual General Meeting (AGM) for members of the Swiss Alliance Australia (SAA), the umbrella organisation for Swiss associations in Australia. During the meeting, James Schmidli from the Swiss Society of Queensland was elected as the new president of the SAA committee, succeeding Claude Staub from the Swiss Club of Victoria.
The AGM was followed by a reception hosted by Consul General Elisabeth Bösch Malinen at her residence, where attendees enjoyed drinks, light refreshments, and conversations outdoors on a warm evening. Thanks to a meeting of the Consular Corps in Sydney on Friday, the reception was attended not only by conference participants but also by Honorary Consuls from across Australia. It was wonderful to see such a diverse mix of people with a Swiss connection coming together.
Saturday 9 Nov 2024
On Saturday, attendeeds gathered at the Swissôtel. The morning sessions featured presentations from:
Alister Henskens SC MP, Member for Wahroonga, Shadow Attorney General on the importance of ethnic social clubs
Nikolas Stürchler, Swiss Ambassador to Australia on his focus for the next 4 years and the Swiss-Australian/Pacific relations
Viktor Vavricka, Swiss Ambassador to New Zealand on Swiss-New Zealand/Pacific relations and engagement in the region
Elisabeth Bösch Malinen, Consul General of Switzerland in Sydney on the Swiss Community and consular services
Laurent Perriard, Deputy Director of the Consular Directorate of the Departement of Foreign Affairs, (Video message from Bern)
Carmen Trochsler, Member Executive Board of the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad on key themes such as e-voting & bank access and the upcoming CSA elections
Claudia Birrer, Committee member of the Youth Parliament of the Swiss Abroad, on YPSA's role and activities
Roland Isler, Swiss Review Editor Regional News Oceania, on the 50th anniversary of the Swiss Review and expected changes for the magazine in 2025
*Information and links from these presentations are shared at the bottom of this page
The afternoon workshop addressed crucial topics on the future of Swiss Clubs, from staying relevant across generations to maintaining the balance between tradition and innovation. Working in small groups, attendees shared experiences and ideas and collectively reimagined ways to fill committee roles and engage members. The case studies, presented by Club presidents Jessica Gysin-Webster (SA), Daniel Frutiger (NSW), Philippe Coquerand (QLD), Barbara Kundig (VIC) and Birgit Bacher Drower & Adrian Blaser (Auckland, NZ) provided practical insights that enriched the conversations.
The diversity of the participants added value to the discussions. Attendees ranged in age from early 20s to their 80s, and the mix included both seasoned and newly elected club presidents. Regional representation spanned nearly all Australian states, as well as New Zealand and even Thailand. Embassy and Consulate representatives, along with Delegates of the Council of the Swiss Abroad, brought additional perspectives.
This broad representation created a dynamic environment where ideas flowed and fresh perspectives on shared challenges were gained. The energy in the room was palpable, with meaningful connections forged and new solutions explored!
In the evening, everyone gathered again for a delicious dinner at the Swissôtel.
Sunday 10 Nov 2024
Sunday morning offered participants a glimpse into Sydney’s early days with a guided tour through The Rocks, a historic district that tells the story of Australia’s first European settlers. As we walked through the narrow, cobblestone streets and past well-preserved sandstone buildings, our guide shared insights into the challenges and resilience of the settlers who helped shape the city. The tour concluded with a relaxed lunch at the Hero of Waterloo Pub, itself a piece of history.
The Swiss Alliance Australia is pleased to have hosted an event that fostered valuable learning and collaboration. Together, we celebrated the strength of our community and took meaningful steps toward a positive future for Swiss Clubs in Oceania.
We are grateful to the participants for their engagement throughout the event. Their contributions were essential to the conference's success. We look forward to meeting again in two years on the Gold Coast!
Helfpul & interesting links:
Stay up to date and find information by following the Swiss Representations, the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad and your local umbrella organisations or clubs via newsletters and social media - or simply bookmark their websites. You will find the social media icons - if available - on the respective websites.
Check out the new App Swiss in Touch developed by the Swiss Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), to keep you connected with the authorities in Switzerland and your local Swiss representation.
If you are getting close to retirement age, have a look at the information from the FDFA on Retiring Abroad, including brochure "Ageing well abroad" with key points to consider (Pensions, Health, Will, advance decisions etc.)
Participate in the upcoming elections of your Council of the Swiss Abroad Representatives for the term 2025 - 2029 - as a candidate and/or by casting your online vote.
Make sure you contact details with the Consulate are up to date so you don't miss out on important information. You can easily check and update your details, register for voting in Switzerland, announce civil status changes and other matters via the online desk.
Interview with Ambassador Viktor Vavricka on localism from a Swiss perspective
Contribute to a good cause and give back to the community by donating blood and joining the Team ‘Swiss Community Australia’, established by the SAA. Let's continue Henri Dunant's legacy. Your blood can save lives. Let's do it together.
Last but not least, we would like to extend our thanks to our sponsors and partners for their invaluable support. Danke, merci, grazie!
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