Chairo student has taste of Indonesia

West Gippsland Trader August 27th 2015

Toby Lewis, the senior school captain at Chairo Christian School’s Drouin campus, was recently announced as one of six winners of the 2015

Indonesian Independence Day Student Scholarship.

This prestigious annual award aims to encourage educational and cultural exchange between Australia and Indonesia by providing linguistic and cultural experiences for committed and promising students who are studying Indonesian as a second language in Victoria.

Having been chosen as one of twelve finalists, Toby was interviewed at the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in Melbourne.

His competition essay addressed the topic, “As a young Australian, what can I do to help ensure that the bilateral relationship between Australia and Indonesia remains strong”.

As an award winner, Toby travelled to Canberra for three days as the guest of the Indonesian Ambassador for Australia in the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia, where he attended the 70th Indonesian Independence Day Ceremony.

He also attended a cultural workshop and toured the Indonesian Cultural Centre.

Toby said he appreciated talking with people involved in international affairs, from those working in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, to academics at ANU, to the ambassador himself.

“It was a great opportunity to practise my Indonesian with native speakers before the end-of-year exams.”