Australian High Commission
Honiara
Solomon Islands

From the High Commissioner's Desk- Edition 3

1 December 2013

From the High Commissioner's Desk -Edition 3

Last Saturday’s G’day Solomon Islands Fun Run exceeded my every expectation. The turnout of about 3000 runners and walkers was remarkable, the weather was kind, the sponsors generous, and from what I could tell – all the way at the very, very back of those running the 5km course - people had fun.

So thank you to all who took part, and for embracing our messages of healthy living and healthy lifestyles. But let’s not wait for the next fun run to eat well, or to get out and get active!

As a White Ribbon Ambassador, I took a pledge never to commit, excuse or remain silent about violence against women. On Monday, 25 November – White Ribbon Day - I was honoured to be invited to join in the march through the streets of Honiara.

I walked behind the courageous women of Solomon Islands, the Christian Care Centre, and beside my colleague from the British High Commission, Dominic Meiklejohn, captains of industry, including Sir Bruce Saunders, RAMSI’s Special Coordinator, Justine Braithwaite, my wonderful staff, and the men and women of Operation Render Safe.

This eclectic group of passionate men and women (including Prime Minister Lilo, who participated in White Ribbon Day events in Gizo) reminded me that violence against women is everyone's business; the costs to our community are far too great for us to continue turning a blind eye.

We need more good people – but especially more men - to make some noise, to issue the “enough is enough” rallying cry. Join us in the 16 days of activism and let’s eliminate violence against or our mothers, sisters, wives and daughters. Naf nao!

This weekend will mark the practical end of the Australian Defence Force-led Operation Render Safe for 2013. It is an enduring exercise to tackle the scourge of explosive remnants of war.

In the past three weeks, these remarkable experts from Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Canada, in close cooperation with the Explosives Ordnance Team from the RSIPF, have rendered safe more than 10,000 items of ordnance, totalling over 8,000kgs of TNT equivalent!

I would like to extend my personal thanks for their extraordinary expertise, their courage and their commitment to make Solomon Islands safer for future generations. I wish them well on their homeward journeys.