Monaco Week Sydney - closing
Published on 21 September 2017 at 14:05 - Modified the 25 July 2023 at 03:01
Speech by H.E. Ms Catherine Fautrier, Monegasque Ambassadress to Australia.
To close Monaco Week Sydney, celebrating the 10th anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between the Principality of Monaco and Australia, the Ambassadress of Monaco HE Catherine Fautrier welcomed nearly 200 guests at a reception organised at the prestigious Sydney Opera House, decorated for the occasion with underwater photographs by Olivier Jude (www.phoctopus.com ).
Benoît Witz, Chef with the Michelin star-studded Le Vistamar Restaurant at Hôtel Hermitage, assisted by Sydney Opera House staff, prepared a Menu Dégustation (sampling menu) highlighting the excellence of Monegasque gastronomy.
The delegation also included Hadrien Bourely, Honorary Consul of Monaco in Sydney, Guy Antognelli, Deputy Director of the Monegasque Tourist & Convention Authority, members of the Sydney Tourist Information Centres and Vanessa Raffaelli and Sophie Ducroux, representing Société des Bains de Mer.
Among the guests, there were representatives of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Frances Adamson, Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, members of the Diplomatic and Consular Corps, such as Nicolas Croizer, Consul General of France, Richard Worth, Consul of Monaco in New Zealand, Kevin Sumption, Director of the Australian National Maritime Museum, Ann Henderson-Sellers, Emeritus Professor at Macquarie University, etc.
In her speech, the Ambassadress underscored the ties between the Principality of Monaco and the Commonwealth of Australia. Both countries share values in many areas, such as education, environmental protection and cultural exchange. She emphasised the commitments of Their Serene Highnesses through Their Foundations and the importance of defending on all continents the causes supported by the Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundations.
She expressed her wish that relations between the two countries be further reinforced in future years. Some events are already scheduled, like Alex Luther’s visit to Monaco in June 2018 as he attempts to break the world record for water-skiing around the Mediterranean, a tour by Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo in June 2019 and we hope to host the exhibition on the Grimaldi Dynasty... (to be continued)
H.E. Mrs Catherine Fautrier, Ambassadress of Monaco to Australia, with Hadrien Bourely, Honorary Consul of Monaco in Sydney, Benoît Witz, Chef of Le Vistamar Restaurant at Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo, Guy Antognelli, Deputy Director of the Monegasque Tourist & Convention Authority, Vanessa Raffaelli and Sophie Ducroux, representing Société des Bains de Mers, and members of the Sydney Tourist Information Centres.
Exhibition of underwater photography by Olivier Jude.