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Australia Indonesia Poetry Exchange 2002

Fatin Hamamah

The Australia Indonesia Poetry Exchange 2002 was a joint project initiated by AIAA and Media Reformasi with support from Komunitas Sastra Indonesia. The project was sponsored by the Australia Indonesia Institute and Garuda Indonesia and took place in Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne and Byron Shire during May-June this year.

The project aimed to involve Indonesian poets Emha Ainun Nadjib, Herman Kamra and Fatin Hamamah in a poetry tour commencing in Sydney with the Sydney Writers Festival. Due to visa problems, Herman Kamra was unfortunatley unable to participate in the project. He did howerver volunteer his flat for the use of the poets while in Sydney.

Project Diary:

Wed 29 May: Emha and Fatin attend the Opening of Sydney Writers Festival at Sydney Town Hall, accompanied by Judy Shelley and Vivaat Yahya. After a visit to China Town for dinner with fellow poet Sitok Srengenge, the group drop by to the Off Broadway Hotel meeting up with Margaret Bradley and Arif Hidayat and catching a jazz-sunda-fusion performance by Wahyu Roche, Deva and Ron Reeves.

Thurs 30 May: Early morning Fatin and Emha depart by train for Canberra where they are met by a very enthusiastic welcome from the Indonesian Embassy, especially Emha's old friend Bpk Burhan. Whisked off to ANU for a lecture and then sighteesing around Canberra, I am sure Fatin and Emha hardly had a moment to think about the winter cold, with Burhan hosting a dinner with Indonesian students and community members in the evening.

Fri 31 May: More sightseeing before attending Friday prayers at the Embassy followed by a poetry reading/discussion/luncheon at the Embassy, attended by representatives of the Australia Indonesia Institute. In the evening another inspiring poetry reading hosted by Lois Carrington at the Australia Indonesia Association, ACT.

Sat 1 June: Emha and Fatin are driven back to Sydney by Bpk Burhan in time to meet with Sitok Srengenge and Sue Piper before the presentation of the Indonesian Poetry Reading at the Sydney Writers Festival. Sue Piper did an excellent job as chairperson of the event, reading the English translations of the poets work as well as introducing them to the audience.

Sun 2 June: Had a chance to meet with Sydney Indonesian community members by attending the launch of the Indonesian Soccer League, followed by lunch with the Acting Consul, Mr Bambang. In the evening, dinner with AIAA members as well as recording a round-table discussion group/interview for SBS Sydney compliments of AIAA member Ricky Kusuma.

Mon 3 June: Early flight to Melbourne, met by Sue Strano from Asialink, in time for a discussion/poetry reading presented by the Indonesia Forum and Indonesian Studies Program at the University of Melbourne. This was followed immediately by a pre-recorded interview at SBS Radio Melbourne with Bpk Bela Kusumah and Ibu Sri who consequently invited them back for a home-cooked Indonesian dinner.

Tues 4 June: Had some time for Melbourne sightseeing before presenting a significant reading hosted by Prof Harry Aveling from La Trobe Uni at the Metropolitan Hotel, presented by the Victorian Writers Centre and Asialink.

Wed 5 June: The poets had a well-earned rest at Venus Bay with Prof Harry, who had so kindly created superb translations of all the poets' work prior to the commencement of the project.

Thurs 6 June: Indonesian students organised a poetry reaiding and discussion at the Indonesian Consulate in Melbourne.

Fri 7 June: Arif Budiman invited Emha to return to the University of Melbourne for a discussion about "The Reformasi according to Emha Ainun Nadjib" followed by a fabulous performance of poetry incollaboration with Australian musician Matthwn Fagan at the Boite World Music Cafe in Nth Fitroy.

Sat 8 June: Emha flies back to Jogja while Fatin flies on to Byron Bay for wonderful readings and collaboration with Brisbane poet Pam Hardy at Persephone's Window in Byron and The Pink Dot in Bruswick Heads as well as a welcoming dinner with AIAA members.

Thanks to all organisers, poets and performers - a highly successful poetry exchange and plans for an even more exciting project next year