PM Modi shares anecdote of Australian minister’s Goa link

Prime Minister Narendra Modi told an anecdote about Australian Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farrell on Sunday. PM Modi stated that when having lunch with his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese, he learned how one of Farrell’s instructors had gone from Goa to Australia.

In a series of tweets, PM Modi stressed that the anecdote underlines the rich cultural connect between India and Australia. PM Modi tweeted, “During the lunch in honour of my friend PM @AlboMP, the Australian Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farrell shared something interesting…he was taught by one Mrs. Ebert in Grade 1 who left a deep impact on his life and credits her for his educational grounding.” In another tweet, PM Modi said that Ebert, her husband and her daughter Leonie migrated from Goa in India to Adelaide in the 1950s and started teaching at a school in Australia. He noted that Ebert’s daughter Leonie even became the President of the South Australian Institute of Teachers.

He tweeted, “Mrs. Ebert, her husband and her daughter Leonie, migrated from Goa in India to Adelaide in the 1950’s and started teaching at a school in Adelaide, Australia. Her daughter Leonie went on to be the President of the South Australian Institute of Teachers.”

In another tweet, PM Modi stated, “I was happy to hear this anecdote, which underlines the rich cultural connect between India and Australia. It is equally heartening to hear when someone refers to his or her teacher fondly.”

Earlier on Saturday, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Saturday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the “extraordinary effort” to make his Australian delegation feel welcome in India.
He tweeted, “Thank you to Prime Minister @narendramodi for the extraordinary effort to make my Australian delegation to feel welcome in India. Having the pleasure of hearing The Triffids and The Go Betweens on the sitar was unexpected and extremely touching.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian colleague Anthony Albanese met at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Friday. On Friday, the Australian Prime Minister met with Foreign Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

Anthony Albanese, speaking at a joint news conference with PM Modi following bilateral level discussions, stated that Australia’s relationship with India is complex. He stated that high-level engagement between the two countries has enhanced collaboration in a variety of industries.

“I look forward to hosting PM Modi in Australia for the Quad Leaders summit in May and then returning to India in September for the G20 Leaders summit. The frequent high-level content between Australia and India has further strengthened cooperation across a range of areas including trade & investment, climate and energy, defence and security, and between the people of our two countries,” Albanese said.