ARCHIVED MEDIA RELEASE
PA/8/2001 27 April 2001
Australia essay contest winner honoured
The Australian High Commissioner to India, Mr Rob Laurie, today announced the winner of an essay contest conducted by the High Commission in Indian schools.
The winner, Sweta Sriram, is a student of Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan Junior College, Chennai.
The essay contest, on the topic My Vision of Australia: 2001 and Beyond, was held to mark Australia's Centenary of Federation: a hundred years of Australia's existence as a united and democratic nation.
The contest was part of a schools program by the High Commission, which also included an Australia quiz contest for Delhi schools held in February.
Presenting prizes to Sweta at the Australian High Commission in New Delhi, Mr Laurie said that students had shown impressive levels of knowledge and understanding of Australia in their essays and in the quiz.
"Sweta's essay stood out especially because it showed a personal and original vision of Australia - it was lively, concise and highly readable," said Mr Laurie.
"I hope that Sweta's win will help to inspire other young people in India to learn more about Australia and about the relations between our two countries."
Among other strong entries were the second place winner Bikram Singh Rana (the Bishop's School, Pune) and the third place winner, E. Sagar (City Montessori School, Lucknow).
About 400 schools from across the country were invited to take part in the essay contest. The High Commission is considering holding similar events in future years.
Mr Laurie presented Sweta with a certificate and book prizes for herself and her school. The first prize also included return air travel to New Delhi and accommodation at the Hotel Grand Hyatt, Delhi. Sponsors of the contest were Hotel Grand Hyatt, Delhi, and educational guidance companies Mancomp Professional Services and Campus Abroad.
For further information and for photographs of the prize ceremony contact:
Mr Rory Medcalf (First Secretary) or Shekhar Nambiar (Public Affairs Manager)
on 688 8223 Ext. 197 or 460.