First-ever Australia Day celebration at Curtin Sarawak

Miri – 15 January 2014 – Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak) will be organising its first-ever Australia Day Sausage Sizzle, an Australian outdoor barbecue event, at its campus on 25 January 2014 to mark Australia Day 2014 which falls on 26 January.

The event will be attended by staff of the university and their families, students attending summer courses, as well as local community leaders, and representatives of Curtin Sarawak’s industry partners and local schools. Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr. George Chan, chairman of the Curtin Sarawak Council, and Karen Welsh, Counsellor – Education and Science at the Australian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur are also expected to attend.

It will feature a range of Australian food including the proverbial Aussie sausage on a bun, meat pies and damper, as well as activities for both children and adults such as a fishing competition, games and a raffle. There will also be the planting of Australian eucalyptus and gum trees in an ‘Australian Grove’ on the campus to mark the occasion.

Australia Day is celebrated annually on 26 January to commemorate the arrival of the First Fleet of 11 convict ships from Great Britain, and the raising of the Union Jack at Sydney Cove by its commander Captain Arthur Phillip, in 1788.

In contemporary Australia, the celebrations reflect the diverse society and landscape of the country and are marked by events for the community and family such as official community awards and citizenship ceremonies welcoming new immigrants into the country.

Curtin Sarawak’s Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Jim Mienczakowksi said the event would be not just a great way to celebrate Curtin Sarawak’s ties with Australia, being the largest international campus of Curtin University in Western Australia, but also to get the new year off to a festive start on the campus.

Staff preparing flaglines for Australia Day Sausage Sizzle on 25 January.