Since it was formed in Sydney in 1945, almost two months before nationalists in Djakarta declared the independence of the Republic of Indonesia just two days after Japan’s surrender, the Australia Indonesia Association has lived up to its aim of cultivating “friendly, cultural, social and trading relations” between the close neighbours. Geoffrey Gold examines how the AIA’s 80th anniversary was celebrated in Sydney and Jakarta:
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| Front cover photograph of Jan Lingard’s book Refugees and Rebels: Indonesian Exiles in Wartime Australia, published by the Australia Indonesia Association. It was presented as a gift to Indonesian President Prabowo by visiting Australian Prime Minister Albanese as a reminder of shared struggles. |
ON A WINTER’S NIGHT in Sydney, Australia, in 1945, as the final months of World War II played out in the Pacific, a crowd packed the Oddfellows Hall in Castlereagh Street. Those gathered, a mix of unionists, academics, community members, and returned servicepeople, had a shared purpose. They voted to create a new organisation dedicated to promoting friendship and understanding with their near neighbour: Indonesia, still under Dutch colonial rule but on the cusp of declaring independence.
That night, 3 July 1945, the Australia Indonesia Association (AIA) was born. Its founding objectives were clear and uncompromising:
“In order to promote friendly relations with a region of which Australians have little knowledge, yet a region that will play an important part in Australia's sphere of foreign affairs in the post-war world:
“This Association believes that to implement the spirit of the Atlantic Charter including the principle of freedom of determination of their own future in a democratic way is the surest guarantee of a progressive and prosperous Indonesia.
“The Association meets Indonesians on the same basis as it does all the peoples of the freedom-loving world, and on this foundation of equality, the Association aims to cultivate friendly, cultural, social and trading relations.
“Important work in this regard will be carried out by public lectures, publication of pamphlets and books, exhibitions of Indonesian art, music, and dancing; by an interchange of visits between cultural, sporting, public and other bodies, by an interchange of students, lecturers and technicians; and by the encouragement of parallel Indonesian activities.”
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| 1945-2025 80th anniversary years of the Australia Indonesia Association and the Republic of Indonesia |
In the decades that followed, the AIA would live out that mission through cultural exhibitions, school prizes, Indonesian language promotion, academic exchanges, people-to-people visits, and an unbroken record of hospitality to visitors from across the archipelago. Its members have supported scholarships, run historical walking tours of Sydney highlighting places linked to Indonesia’s independence movement, published books and online newsletters, and raised funds for health, education, and development projects in eastern Indonesia and Papua.
Eighty years on, the AIA chose to mark this rare milestone with a three-part celebration - a gala dinner in Sydney, the 2025 Australia Indonesia Awards, and an international seminar in Jakarta. Together they honoured the past, celebrated individual contributions, and set out an agenda for the years ahead.
Sydney Gala: Honouring History and Connection
The main event in Australia, held on 4 July 2025 in Sydney, was a formal gala dinner bringing together AIA members and veterans, community leaders, diplomats and officials from both nations.
The guest list reflected the depth of the AIA’s reach: the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC, Governor of New South Wales; His Excellency Dr Siswo Pramono, Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Australia; The Hon Matt Thistlethwaite MP, Assistant Minister for Immigration and for Foreign Affairs and Trade, representing the Prime Minister; Acting Indonesian Consul-General in Sydney, Mr Andos Manggala Lumban Tobing; and representatives from diaspora and community organisations such as the Indonesia Community Council, the Nusa Tenggara Association, and the Manly Manado Society.
AIA President Patrick Hanna opened with a reminder of that wartime meeting 80 years earlier:
“Tonight, we celebrate AIA’s achievements over the past 80 years in their unwavering efforts to bring Indonesians and Australians together. In particular, not only will we give recognition to current day achievers tonight, but we will also honour those who walked before us in wartime Sydney to support the endeavour to bring Independence to Indonesia.”
Governor Beazley, in a message read to the gathering, praised the AIA’s foresight:
“Over the past eight decades, the AIA has been outstanding in its pursuit of the aims of the Association enshrined in the first minutes of the inaugural meeting held on 3 July 1945 at the Odd Fellows Hall … How prescient those words have turned out to be. In 2024, Indonesia was Australia’s 9th largest two-way trading partner by value, the leading international destination for Australian tourists, and home to over 100,000 Indonesian-born people, nearly 40,000 of whom live in NSW. I remember with great fondness the Vice-Regal visit undertaken by Dennis and I in May of 2023 … Congratulations on your anniversary and all that has been achieved in fostering friendship, understanding, and good relations between the people of Australia and Indonesia.”
Representing the Prime Minister, Matt Thistlethwaite MP placed the AIA’s formation in context:
“Australia looked a little different eighty years ago. World War Two had ended in Europe and would soon end in the Pacific … It was in this environment, and still in wartime, that the inaugural meeting of the Australia Indonesia Association was held in Sydney in support of Indonesian independence … Eighty years ago, this was a visionary mission. And we have come a long way since then.”
He detailed the breadth of contemporary cooperation, from trade and investment to climate change, defence, and cultural programs, and pointed to the doubling of two-way trade since the Indonesia–Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IA–CEPA) entered into force in 2020. The new Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040, he said, would further “unlock opportunities for economic cooperation and grow our economic resilience.”
The Minister emphasised people-to-people links as the living embodiment of the AIA’s mission. These include the thousands of Indonesians who have studied in Australia since the Colombo Plan, the 20,000 Indonesian students in Australia today, young Australians undertaking New Colombo Plan placements, and the forthcoming Professional Placements and Internships Program in Indonesia.
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| Left to right: AIA President Patrick Hanna, Federal Minister Matt Thistlethwaite, Indonesian Ambassador Dr Siswo Pranomo |
He also recalled moments of shared assistance: “We remember the thirty-eight Indonesian military personnel who came here to help our local firefighters battle the Black Summer bushfires … just months later, it was Australia that stepped up to help Indonesia manage the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.” These instances, he said, “demonstrate the friendship we share.”
Paying tribute to individual trailblazers, he highlighted Molly Bondan, Indonesia's inaugural President Sukarno’s “English voice” and a founder of the AIA, and Koesmarihati Koesnowarso, the first president of Telkomsel, who continues at 83 to support women in telecommunications and promote bilateral engagement.
The evening’s cultural performances, the shimmering sounds of gamelan played by the Mano Mora Balinese Gamelan, graceful traditional dance and Indonesian song performed by Tari Bali Saraswati Sydney, brought the room to life, embodying the cross-cultural warmth the AIA has nurtured for eight decades.
2025 Australia Indonesia Awards: Celebrating Individual Contributions
The second feature of the Sydney celebration evening recognised those who have made exceptional contributions to the relationship. Established by AIA in 2014, the Australia Indonesia Awards honour both Australians and Indonesians whose work has strengthened mutual understanding.
AIA’s special 80th anniversary edition of the awards focused on two categories – an Open Award for nominees over 35 years of age, and a Youth Award for those up to 35 – with both reflecting the diversity and depth of engagement between the two countries.
An independent selection panel of four brought their own deep bilateral credentials:
• Chris Barnes (Chair) – Head of trade policy and international relations at the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Australia’s first Consul General in Surabaya.
• David Reeve – Scholar, author, historian and Hon Associate Professor at UNSW with over 45 years of engagement with Indonesia and appointments at six Indonesian universities.
• Robbie Gaspar – Former professional footballer in Indonesia, sports diplomacy advocate, and current President of the Indonesia Institute.
• Suliyanti Sunaryo – Entrepreneur and community leader whose food import business has brought Indonesian flavours into Australian homes while supporting cultural exchange.
The Open Award finalists were:
Toni Pollard — An educator who has taught Bahasa Indonesia for over 50 years in both Australia and England. She has translated numerous works of Indonesian literature, attended all 20 years of the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival, and founded the IndoLit Club in 2018 to give readers a forum to discuss Indonesian writing in translation. Video profile here
Vicki Richardson — First visiting Indonesia in 1983 to learn the language and culture, she studied Anthropology and Indonesian Language at Curtin University. After a distinguished career in education, including as Dean of Languages at Tranby College, she now spends six months each year building partnerships between schools in both countries, fostering deep connections between teachers and students. Video profile here
Ambassador Siswo congratulated both Open Category finalists for their “outstanding and enduring contributions” to education, cultural exchange, and community engagement, before announcing Vicki and Toni as joint winners.
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| Indonesian Ambassador Dr Siswo congratulated 2025 Australia Indonesia Awards Open Category joint winners, Vicki Richardson and and Toni Pollard. |
The Youth Award finalists were:
Brigitta Gunawan — Founder of 30x30 Indonesia at just 17, she is a National Geographic Young Explorer and High Seas Youth Ambassador. Her organisation engages communities in ocean conservation through science education, policy advocacy, and habitat restoration. She has been honoured internationally for environmental leadership and is studying ecology and conservation biology at Monash University. Video Profile here
Matthew Hasjim — Australian-born of Indonesian heritage, he has served as President of AIYA NSW and is currently Operations Director of AIYA nationally. He has led the “Indonesia in Action Day” for NSW school students studying the Indonesian Language, expanding it from Years 11–12 to Years 7–12, creating new opportunities for young Australians to engage with Indonesian culture and language. Video Profile here
Minister Thistlethwaite congratulated the Youth Category finalists as “a new generation of emerging leaders dedicated to deepening bilateral cooperation and understanding” and announced Matthew Hasjim as the Youth Award winner.
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| Australian Minister Thistlethwaite congratulates Youth Category winner, Matthew Hasjim |
A Deeper Tribute – Indonesians in Wartime Sydney
A particularly moving part of the evening was the expanded Tribute to Indonesians in Wartime Sydney (1941–45). The AIA honoured members of the Indonesian diaspora who, alongside Australian allies, played pivotal roles in the Black Armada movement - the boycott by Australian waterside workers of Dutch ships carrying arms and supplies intended to re-establish colonial control in Indonesia. This act of solidarity was instrumental in delaying Dutch military operations and drawing international attention to Indonesia’s fight for independence.
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| Indonesian Ambassador Dr Siswo (far left) and AIA President Patrick Hanna (far right) present special Wartime Tribute plaques to the families of AIA veterans |
Those honoured were:
• The late Mr Timotius Luntungan — A young activist in wartime Sydney whose organisational skills helped sustain the Indonesian independence network. Represented by Ms Cathy Luntungan.
• The late Mr Vic Paath — Known for his eloquence in public meetings and his role in liaising between Indonesian seamen and Australian unions. Represented by Ms Thia and Ms Marina Paath.
• The late Mr Paul Umpel — A merchant seaman who became a key figure in maintaining morale among Indonesian crews stranded in Australian ports.
• The late Mr Andries Sorongan — Remembered for his tireless advocacy and work to connect the Indonesian community with Australian supporters. Represented by his daughter Ms Isla Winarto.
The tribute not only recognised personal sacrifice but reaffirmed the AIA’s direct link to this critical period in Indonesian and Australian history.
Jakarta Seminar: Dialogue Across the Decades
The anniversary celebrations in Jakarta were conducted two weeks earlier on 19 June with an international seminar at Universitas Nasional co-hosted by AIA’s Indonesia Chapter and the university’s Australian Studies Centre. Titled “The History of Australia–Indonesia Relations from the 1940s to the Present”, the event brought together 150 in-person participants and 96 online viewers from government, academia, business, and the community.
The day began with a welcome from UNAS Vice Rector Prof Dr Ernawati Sinaga, who emphasised the importance of academic partnerships in deepening bilateral understanding. AIA Vice President Isla Winarto followed, highlighting the significance of holding the seminar in Indonesia during the association’s anniversary year.
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| AIA Vice President Isla Winarto |
Australia's Ambassador to Indonesia, His Excellency Mr Rod Brazier then delivered a keynote address that traced the long arc of Australia-Indonesia relations, well before the formal establishment of diplomatic ties. He described the AIA as having “played an important role fostering friendship, understanding, and good relations between the peoples of Australia and Indonesia” for eight decades.
“Last year we celebrated 75 years of diplomatic relations between Australia and Indonesia,” he said. “Of course, ties between Australia and Indonesia stretch back further than 75 years. Hundreds of years ago, Macassan traders engaged with the Indigenous people of Northern Australia.”
While 2024 marked the diplomatic milestone, he noted, 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of Indonesian independence - a moment in which Australia was “one of the earliest and strongest supporters.”
“President Sukarno chose Australia to represent Indonesia in the UN discussions that led to independence,” he reminded the audience. “Grassroots support also came from the people of Australia … the Black Armada boycott by Australian workers of Dutch ships … and the many individual Australians who volunteered to assist the independence movement. Some of those Australians, and the Indonesians they stood with, were founders of the AIA.”
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| Australia's Ambassador to Indonesia, Mr Rod Brazier |
Both Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, he observed, are “students of history” who understand the importance of that early solidarity. When Albanese visited Jakarta the previous month, he presented Prabowo with a copy of Jan Lingard’s book Refugees and Rebels: Indonesian Exiles in Wartime Australia - a reminder of those shared struggles.
Looking to the future, the Ambassador said: “Even more than our shared past, it is our two countries’ futures that are tied together. As neighbours, partners and friends, Australia and Indonesia are embracing opportunities to work more closely together.”
He pointed to the Defence Cooperation Agreement signed in 2023, the fifth anniversary of the IA–CEPA in 2025, and joint efforts on climate change, energy transition, and regional stability.
“It is connections between our people - such as the members of the AIA - that are at the heart of our relationship,” he said, noting the more than 200,000 Australian alumni in Indonesia and the transformative role of educational exchange.
In closing, he struck an optimistic note: “In this uncertain world, we need to continue to build our shared prosperity and advance our national and regional security. And I’m convinced we will do this, because of our history, partnership, and determination to stand together.”
The program continued with Jan Lingard, speaking via Zoom from Sydney, who explored the experiences of Indonesians in Australia during World War II - stories central to her book Refugees and Rebels. Her presentation underscored the formative role of wartime exchanges in establishing people-to-people connections that predated diplomatic recognition.
Professor Greg Barton, Rector of the Deakin University–Lancaster University Indonesia campus, then presented “Lumayan – Why Australia’s 80-Year Walk with Indonesia Has Been Good but Needs to Be Much Better”. He acknowledged the achievements in trade, security, and education, but urged both nations to commit to greater ambition and deeper engagement over the next decades.
A youth panel moderated by Dr Shannon Smith included Aryandri Amalda Artono, Bryan Nathanael, Clarice Campbell, Wisnu Muhammad Trianugeraha, and Yafa Maisya Putri. They spoke frankly about career opportunities, the role of social media in shaping perceptions, and the urgency of addressing climate change together.
Dr Smith reflected: “I enjoyed moderating a panel made up of young Australians and Indonesians who talked about their hopes and aspirations for the future … and offered a range of tangible ideas for improving the bilateral relationship.”
Prof Barton praised it as “a stimulating panel discussion … masterfully moderated by Shannon Smith,” while Isla Winarto called the format “engaging” and representative of young aspirations for the future.
The day ended with Dr Hendra Maujana Saragih outlining future scenarios for the relationship, a Q&A session, and closing remarks from Dr Aos Yuli Firdaus, Acting Dean of UNAS’s School of Social and Political Sciences, with thanks from Isla Winarto on behalf of the AIA.
Australia Indonesia Association: The Future
From the music and speeches of the Sydney Gala, through the recognition of individual excellence at the Awards, to the rigorous debate of the Jakarta Seminar, the AIA’s 80th anniversary was not only a commemoration but a reaffirmation of purpose.
For eighty years, the AIA has been a living bridge between two close neighbours. In a region facing change and challenge, that bridge - built on friendship, respect, and mutual endeavour - will remain as important in the decades ahead as it was on that July night in 1945.
AIA invites participation in two more significant 80th Anniversary public events in 2025:
- On Sunday 21 September, AIA Committee Member (and President of Blacktown Historical Society), Neil Smith, will guide a two-hour Sydney Cultural Walk. explaining Sydney's history from colonial times to present, including stories of its role in Indonesia's independence struggle from 1945.
- On the weekend of 8–9 November, AIA members, friends and dignitaries, will hold a formal wreath-laying ceremony in the NSW rural city of Cowra to honour Indonesian freedom fighters laid to rest in Cowra’s Prisoner of War Cemetery. In 1943, political prisoners from Boven Digul, a notorious Dutch prison in Papua, were sent to Australia by the retreating Netherlands East Indies government and wrongly interned in the Cowra POW camp. They were later joined by Indonesian seamen who had refused to return to Dutch ships. Around 1,200 Indonesians were held in Cowra; before their release, 13 had died, and they now lie together in the Indonesian section.
Details of AIA’s activities in Australia and Indonesia and free registration to its weekly events newsletter are available in its website: www.australia-indonesia-association.com.
Information on AIA’s very low cost of annual membership is available here.
Contact AIA’s President, Patrick Hanna, at president@australia-indonesia-association.com.
Geoffrey Gold is founder of Gold Communications, publisher of the Indonesia Australia Report, and author of business guides to Indonesia, A former resident of Jakarta, he is now based in Australia where he is Chair for Minerals, Energy and Industry for the Australia Indonesia Business Council, a member of the national board of the Australia Indonesia Association, and Ambassador to Australia for AFL Indonesia.
He thanks AIA leaders and the participants of the AIA’s 80th Anniversary for contributing their papers and comments to this article, and congratulates them and the AIA’s Sydney and Jakarta volunteers – including Eric de Haas, Neil Smith, Steve Khouw, Romie Sofiati, and MC Andrea Purnomo - for delivering these historic events.
© 2025 First published by the Indonesia Australia Report, www.indonesia-australia.com