1997 School Magazine

------ --- d9irls d9rnmnrnr ~cbool ~risbane 1997

The Chogin Experience - Malaysians For a Day

0 n 23rd May, six Year Twelve students accompanied by the Head of History, Ms Hennessey, attended the ,tudents' Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting at =>ar!iament House. Bet-

The day began with a general discussion outlining the aims of the conference and the role each of us was to play. The debate then began with a ve1y outspoken member of the

Zimbabwe delegation raising valid points as to the use for and need of formal education in de- veloping countries. Is- sues from foreign aid, to racism to human rights were debated and dis- cussed thoroughly throughout the day re- sulting in conclusions being drawn as to the validity of some of the Commonwealth's ven- tures . A communique from this students ' con- ference will be pre- sented in Edinburgh, Scotland at the official CHOGM in October. All

:er known by most as ::::HOGM, the meeting oc- : urs eve1y two years in a Commonwealth Nation to discuss issues such as foreign aid, ecologically sustainable development and the plight of devel- oping nations . The con- ference we attended was, of course, a mock meet- ing, similar to the UN conference the Year Tens participated in on Social Studies Faculty Day . Francesca Gasteen , Barbara McKay, Samantha Powell, Livvy Loughnan, Catherine Chapman and Renee

(L-R): B. McKay, F. Gasteen., 0. Loughnan, R. Beny, C. Chapman, Ms]. Hennessey , Ms D. Buckley (Convenor, Stu.den.I CHOGM 1997), S. Powell

six girls enjoyed the day immensely, taking away knowledge and interest in the Com- monwealth and its relevance to today's society and we look fo1ward to seeing the outcome of the real CHOGM later this

Beny were delegates from the assigned countiy, Malaysia. Each of the twenty schools present sent six delegates from the assigned country. There was a wide range of countries repre- sented, from Australia to Singapore to Zimbabwe and India . There was a range of developed and developing countries present. Malaysia is an influential yet controversial nation and this resulted in many questions and a lot of fun on the day.

year.

CATHERINE CHAPMAN

'Malaysian' Delegation

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