Nineteenth Anniversary
Paul Lynch MLC
2018, 26 August
Our guest of honour was Mr Paul Lynch MLC, speaking on the contemporary importance of the orphans. The link below will take you to the text of his address
Eighteenth Anniversary
Dr Jeff Kildea
2017, 27 August
Our guest of honour was Dr Jeff Kildea, historian, the link below will take you to the text of his address
Seventeenth Anniversary
Rev. Tim Costello AO
2016, 16 August
Our guest of honour was Rev. Tim Costello AO, the link below will take you to the video of his address
Sixteenth Anniversary
Peter Watts
2015, 28 August
Our guest of honour was Peter Watts, Emeritus Director, Historic Houses Trust who was Director at the time of the building of the Memorial
Fifteenth Anniversary
Richard O’Brien
2014, 31 August
Our guest of honour was Richard O’Brien, Former Irish Ambassador to Australia who as Irish Ambassador at the time was instrumental in building the Memorial
Fourteenth Anniversary
Jimmy Deenihan TD
2013, 25 August
Our guest of honour from Ireland was Jimmy Deenihan TD, Minister for Arts, Heritage & Gaeltacht who was involved in all our International Famine Commemorations
Thirteenth Anniversary
Brendan Graham
2012, 26 August
Our guests of honour were Brendan Graham, Irish composer and novelist, Singer, songwriter Sarah Calderwood and the Australian Girls choir. Descendant Melissa Plant also spoke
Brendan Graham, Irish composer and novelist
Melissa Plant, descendant of Mary O’Hare from Galway
Australian Girls’ Choir
Jim Edwards, descendant of Hannah Rafferty presented with Irish Heritage award
2011, 9 December
Twelfth Anniversary
Frank Brennan SJ AO
2012, 26 August
Guests of honour were members of the Irish Diplomatic Corp including the Irish Consul-General Ms Caitriona Ingoldsby. Wreaths were laid and music and song mingle with friends, both old and new. Traditional Irish hospitality was shared by all. Attached is the text of the speech of our honoured guest, Fr Frank Brennan SJ AO.
Eleventh Anniversary
Evelyn Conlon
2010, 29 August
Our guest of honour was Irish author, Evelyn Conlon whose address was entitled ‘Disembarking Silence’.
Tenth Anniversary
Tom Power and Reverend Professor James Haire
2009, 30 August
Introduction by Chairman, Tom Power followed by an address by Reverend Professor James Haire, PhD DD DLitt, Executive Director, Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture, Canberra.
Ninth Anniversary
Dr Richard Reid
2008, 31 August
The rain held off, the music and catering was as good as always, attendance was up on previous years. The occasional address was delivered with by Dr Richard Reid, the curator of a major exhibition on the Irish in Australia at Australian Museum in Canberra to open in 2011.
Eighth Anniversary
Mike Bailey
2007, 27 August
Master of ceremonies was Mike Bailey. Today we had poetry readings and a booklaunch and presented our Macquarie University prize for the first time.
Christmas Day Mass
2006
Seventh Anniversary
Dr Jennifer Harrison
2006, 2 September
Guest speaker was Queensland historian, Dr Jennifer Harrison. Guest of honour was Mr Patrick Scullion, Consul-General of Ireland who moved the vote of thanks.
Sixth Anniversary
Thomas Keneally
2005, 27 August
In his address Thomas Keneally likened the misery of the Irish orphan girls who came through Hyde Park Barracks to the desperate plight of the Sudanese refugees in Darfur today.
Fifth Anniversary
Susan Ryan
2004, 29 August
Tom Power, Chairman, thanked many of the people involved and introduced the speaker for the day, the Hon Susan Ryan.
Fourth Anniversary
Cheryl Mongan
2003, 17 August
The speaker for this anniversary was Cheryl Mongan, co-author of ‘A Decent Set of Girls’: The Irish Famine orphans of the ‘Thomas Arbuthont’ 1849-185. She focused on those who went to Yass, initially accompanied by Surgeon Charles Strutt, who had cared for them on their voyage.
Visit by President Mary McAleese
2003, 13 March
Visit by President Mary Robinson
2002, 10 November
Third Anniversary
Dr Shirley Fitzgerald
2002, 8 September
The new Irish Ambassador to Australia, Declan Kelly and his wife, Bernadette, were was welcomed by Tom Power and our speaker for the day, Dr Shirley Fitzgerald, City of Sydney Historian was introduced.
Second Anniversary
Dr Trevor McClaughlin
2001
Attended by Mr Seamus Brennan, Minister of State in the Department of the Taoiseach, Minister of State in the Department of Defense and Government Chief Whip. An address was delivered by Dr Trevor McClaughlin.
Unveiling the Monument to the Great Irish Famine
Martin Coleman, Claire Dunn and President Mary McAleese
1999, 28 August
On this day the Master of Ceremonies was Martin Coleman supported by Claire Dunn and a message was send from President Mary McAleese.
President Mary McAleese inaugurated the monument
1998, 2 September
Fundraising dinner, addressed by Premier Bob Carr
1998, 7 August
