On Wednesday 30 April 2008, at Government House, Canberra, the Administrator Her Excellency Professo...

On Wednesday 30 April 2008, at Government House, Canberra, the Administrator Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC received from His Excellency Mr Albert Chua, Letters of Commission accrediting him as the High Commissioner for the Republic of Singapore. The High Commissioner was accompanied by Mr Cheong Ming Foong (Deputy High Commissioner), Mr Franklin Wee (Counsellor), and Ms Winne Tan (First Secretary) High Commission for the Republic of Singapore. The Administrator also received Ms Patricia Lam.

Afterwards, the Administrator received from His Excellency Mr Diego Alvarez Betancur, Letters of Credence accrediting him as the Ambassador of the Republic of Columbia. The Ambassador was accompanied by Mr Carlos Ferero (Second Secretary), Embassy of Columbia. The Administrator also received Mrs Maria Emma Rubiano. Later, the Administrator received from His Excellency Mr Hailekiros Gessesse, Letters of Credence accrediting him as the Ambassador of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. The Ambassador was accompanied by Mr Graham Romanes (Honorary Consul for Ethiopia), Mr Melaku Legesse (Third Secretary) Consulate-General of Ethiopia, Melbourne. The Administrator also received Mrs Almaz Ergau. In the afternoon, the Administrator hosted to lunch: the High Commissioner for the Republic of Singapore and Ms Patricia Lam; the Ambassador of the Republic of Columbia and Mrs Maria Emma Rubiano; the Ambassador of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and Mrs Almaz; The Reverend Stuart Abrahams and Mrs Billie Abrahams; Ms Gillian Bird; Mr Jose Blanco; Ms Lyndall Mclean, AM; Mr Graham Romanes and Mrs Glynyys Romanes; the Honourable Peter Slipper, MP and Mrs Inge Slipper; Mr Mike Symon, MP and Mrs Cheryl Symon; and Mr Patrick Walters. Later, the Administrator received a call by Mr Peter Crisp, an internationally acclaimed glass artist and Mr Evgeny Ukhanov a celebrated Russian pianist. In the evening, at the Japanese Ambassador's Residence, Canberra, the Administrator attended a dinner hosted by the Ambassador of Japan, His Excellency Mr Takaaki Kojima and Mrs Tomoko Kojima. Earlier in Jerusalem, Israel, the Governor-General, His Excellency Major General Michael Jeffery AC CVO MC toured the Weizmann Institute, the Vulcani Institute and Hazera Genetics. In the evening, at Yad Vashem, Israel, the Governor-General and Her Excellency Mrs Marlena Jeffery attended Israel's Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Day 2008 Opening Ceremony. Earlier Mrs Jeffery toured Matsada, Ein Gedi Kibbutz, National Park and Qumran.