Australian Honorary Consul – Mar to June Activity

The Chaing Mai Consulate blog offers some information and insight into the activity and service provided in the North of Thailand by the Honorary Counsel. The work hours provided to operate the consulate in Chiang Mai are voluntarily donated by the Honorary Consul. The previous 4 months have been active with a considerable number of consular services provided & public diplomacy activities attended involving 186 hours of consulate work. The key consular activities currently are (1) taking passport applications, (2) providing information & referrals regarding notarial services, (3) referring Australian visa enquirers to VFS Global, (4) supporting the Embassy consular case work in the northern region and (5) providing other general information & assistance to clients.

Consular Service Information

Follow is for general awareness:

Passports Applications Chiang Mai – Australian passport applications can be lodged with the Honorary Consul, Chiang Mai – by appointment only. Please contact the Australian Consulate Chiang Mai (Monday to Thursday 9 am to 12 noon) on 091 857 6996 or by email – ausconcm@gmail.com – to book an appointment. More information here

Consular Outreach – Chiang Mai Visit Schedule – The next outreach will be held in November 2019 (date and location to be confirmed). More information here

Marriage in Thailand – No Impediment Document –  The Australian Embassy now issues a Certificate of No Impediment for Australians to get married in Thailand. More information here

Income Statutory Declarations – Please note that Australian consular or diplomatic officers are only permitted to witness an Australian Statutory Declaration being made for use in Australia by an Australian entity. More information here

Booking Appointments – Australian Embassy Bangkok – Passport and Notarial Services are provided by appointment ONLY – Monday to Friday between 8:30am and 3:00pm (subject to appointment availability and excluding Embassy public holidays). See here for booking information

Booking Appointment – Australian Consulate Chiang Mai – Please contact the Australian Consulate Chiang Mai during operating times (Monday to Thursday 9 am to 12 noon) on 091 857 6996 or by email – ausconcm@gmail.com – to discuss your questions or to book an appointment.

 

Community Outreach & Public Diplomacy Events

There are a variety of event invitations from the Thai Government, private sector and other agencies that provide opportunities for engagement in the community and public diplomacy. The following highlights some of the community engagement activity during the past 4 months period including March, April, May & June 2019.

Chiang Mai Outreach, June 2019 – Australian Embassy Consular Office from Bangkok came to Chiang Mai to hold the Outreach Program on 14 June at Le Meridien Hotel. It operated from 9 to 12 on the day with only 26 clients attending for notarial and passport services. Ahead of the Outreach the consular team were facilitated by the Chiang Mai Consulate to visit and hold discussions with representatives from McKean Rehabilitation Hospital/Dok Kaew Gardens, Lanna Care Net and CM Thai Immigration Officials.

 

Australian artist exhibition, ‘A Device to Save Us All’, – attended the unique Monfai Cultural Centre for the artists presentation. A Melbourne-based artist, Hanna Tai has been in Chiang Mai on an artist residency with Ne’-Na Contemporary Art Space, supported by a grant from the Australia Council for the Arts. The Exhibition – A Device to Save Us All – explores how ordinary experience changes when seen in relation to larger forces like gravity, time, space, and climate change. It is an exhibition of work created during her month-long residency at Ne’ Na.

 

Lanna Expo 2019 – Members of the Northern Thailand Consular Corps were guests at the official opening at Chiang Mai International Exhibition & Convention Centre. I would suggest checking it out = from 28 June to 7 July 2019.  This is one of the biggest expos of the year with products from the 4 northern Thailand provinces. It includes the Northern Thailand Food Valley Expo featuring 150 booths of coffee. Zone of the exhibition showcasing OTOP & SMEs with more than 180 booths. International Cultural exchanges has over 15 booths. Health Zone features Geyser Health Care, care for the elderly, use of medical marijuana and much more. There is also lots of great cooked food available to enjoy along with live performances.

 

My Mothers Kitchen – We joined other members of the Consular Corps and guests for the opening performance. Great evening at the Maiiam Contemporary Art Museum Chiang Mai to enjoy the play – My Mother’s Kitchen. Thanks to an invitation by the Embassy of Portugal and the Portuguese Culture Center Bangkok. The play explores the theme of family, generations and the famous Thong Yip, a desert recipe of Portuguese legacy in Thailand. Entertaining and humorous.

 

 

243rd Anniversary of the USA Independence Day –  The Australian Consulate, along with the Australian Embassy Consular Services Manager, attended the U.S. Consul General Jennifer Harhigh’s reception at Nimman Convention Centre for her farewell party and in celebration of the 243rd Anniversary of the Independence of the United States of America. Special guest included U. S. Charge d’Affaires Peter Haymond and Mrs Dusadee Haymond. Great performances by a young lady singing national anthems and Yale University acappella group.

 

Australian Alumni Chiang Mai – It was a pleasure supporting the Australian Education Expo in Chiang Mai hosted by the Australian Alumni Association, Austcham, & Australian Embassy. Education institution representatives were on hand to share information along with Alumni panel discussions. A fantastic evening of social networking followed with Australian Alumni and guests getting to know each other. Great company, story sharing, delicious food and refreshments. Thanks to the Australian Alumni Association, Austcham and the Australian Embassy for hosting. Thanks to Steve, of Citylife for sharing the pictures.

 

 

Northern Consular Corps – The Consular Corps of Northern Thailand get together from time to time for work and for a social catch ups. This time it was reception at the Magnolia Cafe Chiang Mai. Our event was held for corps members to formally welcome Thein Tin, Consul General, Republic of Union of Myanmar; Hiroshi Matsumoto Consul General, Japan & Kavida Aisiri, Honorary Consul, Columbia. It was also an occasion to farewell: Jennifer Harhigh, Consul General, USA and to congratulate Ren Yisheng, Consul General, People Republic of China on becoming new Dean of Consular Corps. A lovely venue, great food & enjoyable night.

 

Witchai Wittaya English Program – The Consulate joined other local officials and guests at this English Program School for a friendship dinner to mark Eid al-Fitr also called the “Festival of Breaking the Fast”. This is an annual school event and is an important religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. It was a friendly, social evening.

 

AusVeg Agriculture Visit – Enjoyed speaking to a delegation of Australians from AusVeg, in Thailand for ThaiFEX. (Food expo Bangkok) about northern Thailand and the Chiang Mai economy. I supported Austrade from the Embassy by providing a briefing on Chiang Mai as the group visited with Rimping. During their 3 day visit the group toured with Rimping, local organic farms and met with importer/distributor’s.

 

Japans New Emperor – I visited the Consul General of Japan in Chiang Mai. I was honored to be invited to sign the book of congratulations for HIH Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan, who officially acceded to the Throne as the new Emperor of Japan. I was welcomed by the acting Consul General and staff from the Consulate.

 

King Rama X Coronation – The coronation of the Thai King has been an historic time in Thailand. While the focus of activity has been on Bangkok, there have been events in each province as well. The Consulate joined other members of the Consular Corps, local dignitaries and Thais at the Chiang Mai Provincial Offices. We signed books of congratulations and participated in local ceremonies to acknowledge King Rama X Coronation. In the morning we also attended Wat Phra Singh for a monk service an alms giving. Representing Australia I was very proud to have been involved.

 

Anzac Day Chiang Mai – To mark one of Australian’s most important national commemorative occasions in Chiang Mai a large group gathered at the House of Praise International Church court-yard. The Dawn Service began at 6 am with a formal welcome that included a hymn and prayer, addresses from the Australian Honorary Consul and a Royal Australian Navy LCDR, J Richardson, then the laying of wreaths, playing of the last post by a Thai army bugler , one minutes silence & then reveille and flag raising. The service concluded with the playing of national anthems of Australia and New Zealand. See this separate post for details and pictures of the day.

 

Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pleased to host the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Chief of Passport Office Chiang Mai, Khun Sittikorn, at the Consulate. He is a most helpful consular corps contact. We enjoyed a good exchange on a variety of issues including their legalisation services.

 

Australian Teachers of Dance, Thailand – It was a charity performance of “Beauty & the Beast 2019” and thank you to artistic director ML Preeyapun Sridhavat (Honorary Consul General of Peru) for inviting the Consulate and the opportunity to present floral arrangements to the performers. Chaing Mai Ballet Academy in association with the Australian Teachers of Dancing and the ATOD Children & Youth Development Association staged this spectacular charity performance at Kad Theatre. The cast list included many internationally awarded dancers & more than 200 students from Chiang Mai Ballet Academy as supporting dancers.