Today, 26 January 2009, the NATO Defense College hosted a ceremony to mark the Australian National Day.
Senior Course 113 and the NDC Command Group, Faculty and staff were invited by Lt Colonel Michael Toohey to celebrate the occasion with him.
In the presence of the NDC Commandant, Lieutenant General Wolf-Dieter Loeser, Lt Colonel Toohey gave an interesting and lively speech focusing on the salient events of Australian history.
40,000 years before the start of European settlement in the late 18 th century, the Australian mainland was inhabited by around 250 ethnic groups of indigenous Australians.
The discovery of Australia by European explorers led to Dutch colonization of the territory. The eastern part of the continent was claimed by the British in 1770.
Britain decided to use its new outpost as a penal colony. The British First Fleet of 11 ships, carrying about 1,500 people, half of whom were convicts, arrived in Sydney Harbour on 26 January 1788. As a consequence, New South Wales was founded on 26 January 1788. It is this day that is remembered as Australia Day.
Lt Colonel Toohey is the first Australian ever to participate in the NDC Senior Course, which for a few years now has been open to participants from Contact Countries ( Japan, South Korea and Australia).
The College has already welcomed two Japanese course members. Senior Course 114 will be attended by another student from Japan and, for the first time, a student from South Korea.
Prepared by Ms Teresa Caterino (ITA)
NATO Defense College