Allison Sudradjat

Allison Sudradjat was AusAID's Minister Counsellor in Indonesia. Sudradjat was born in Narrogin, Western Australia, in 1966 to Kevin and Elaine Keevil. She was awarded a scholarship to Perth College, where she studied Indonesian, before winning an undergraduate scholarship to the Australian National University (ANU) in 1983. At ANU she undertook a degree in Asian Studies, completing her Honours year in 1986 after majoring in Indonesian and history.[1]

Having completed Honours, Allison Sudradjat worked at the Indonesian embassy prior to traveling to Bandung, Indonesia to undertake a university scholarship at Padjadjaran University awarded by the Indonesian Government.[2][3] It was at the Indonesian embassy in Canberra where Sudradjat met her future husband, Ris, whom she married in Jakarta in 1988.[2]

Sudradjat began work in AusAID in 1989 and served in overseas postings in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. While in Papua New Guinea Sudradjat managed the AusAID assistance during the 1997-98 drought, and was involved in the aftermath of the 1998 tsunami that hit the Aitape region.[2]

She coordinated for AusAID the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami emergency relief effort provided by the Australian Government,[1][4] and served as AusAID's foreign affairs representative in Indonesia.[5] Later, in 2005, Sudradjat was appointed to the role of minister-counsellor.[3]

Allison Sudradjat died in the crash of Garuda Indonesia Flight 200 on 7 March 2007.[6]

In the AusAID magazine Focus, Alexander Downer, then Australia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, said of Allison Sudradjat:

She was an exceptional human being who cared passionately for the aid program and what it can achieve. Allison coordinated the Australian Government's emergency response in Indonesia after the Indian Ocean tsunami, headed the reconstruction program in Aceh and later took over as head of all AusAID programs in Indonesia. She had enormous capacity and talent.[7]

On 18 March 2008, Stephen Smith, Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs announced the inaugural winners of the prestigious Allison Sudradjat Scholarships. The six scholars will undertake Masters or PhD level courses,[8] and include four from Indonesia and two from Papua New Guinea.[9]

She is survived by her husband, Ris, and four children.[10]

References
  1. Cameron, Deborah (16 March 2007). "Brilliant diplomat fell in love with Indonesia". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  2. Davis, Bruce (20 March 2007). "Aid worker's love affair with Indonesia's needy". The Age.
  3. Smiles, Sarah (9 March 2007). "An engaging woman devoted to Indonesians". The Age.
  4. Kennedy, Les (9 March 2007). "Australians dedicated to foreign service". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 18 March 2008.
  5. Bhaskara, Harry (21 June 2005). "Acehnese bemoan slow reconstruction". The Jakarta Post.
  6. Davis, Bruce (8 May 2007). "Head of AusAID Indonesia Confirmed Dead". Australian Agency for International Development. Australian Government; AusAID. Archived from the original on 30 August 2007. Retrieved 18 March 2008.
  7. Downer, Alexander (1 May 2007). "Focus - The Magazine of Australia" (PDF). Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Australian Government; AusAID. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 July 2008. Retrieved 18 March 2008.
  8. Smith, Stephen. "Scholarships support emerging leaders in Indonesia and PNG - The Hon Stephen Smith MP, Minister for Foreign Affairs". Commonwealth of Australia. Archived from the original on 1 May 2008. Retrieved 3 May 2008.
  9. "PNG duo win Aussie scholarship". Papua New Guinea Post-Courier. 22 March 2008.
  10. "Brilliant diplomat fell in love with Indonesia - Obituaries". Sydney Morning Herald. 16 March 2007. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
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