Victoria Branch Secretary, Ron Williamson, reports on his branch's latest lunch and talk on the theme of Brexit.
On Wednesday 10 May, the Victoria Branch hosted Mr Christopher Holtby OBE, British Consul-General Melbourne and Head of the UK Office for South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria. He was accompanied by Mrs Polly Holtby. The event was held at The Angliss Restaurant, which forms part of the William Angliss Institute, perhaps Australia’s foremost education provider in the field of hospitality. I am pleased to say that everything was ‘spot on’.
Mr Holtby spoke engagingly and with ‘cautious candour’ about the significant and still emerging complexities facing the UK in relation to Brexit, particularly issues of trade and border protection. He raised the key issue of the relationship with the Republic of Ireland and the issue of Northern Island and free movement across that border. He touched on the implications of the forthcoming election in the UK, role of the Commonwealth and made reference to the great dialogue between Mrs Menna Rawlings CMG, British High Commissioner to Australia and The Hon Alexander Downer AC, Australian High Commissioner London at a recent Australian British Chamber of Commerce luncheon in Melbourne where they addressed the topic The UK and Australia – Independent Indispensable Partners.
The photo shows l-r, Mr Chris Holtby OBE, Mrs Christine Chamberlain, Deputy President, ROSL Victoria, Mr Jason Ronald OAM, President ROSL Victoria and Chair ROSL Australia and Mrs Polly Holtby at the event.
