Australia & New Zealand Association Jakarta
2020 Yearbook Celebrating 50 years of ANZA
Part 2 of 2
Table of Contents
Part 1 History of ANZA ANZA Presidents ANZA Event Photos ANZA Life Member Stories A Tribute to ANZA House & ANZA Staff ANZA Alumni Stories
Part 2 2020 ANZA Member Stories A Tribute to ANZA Balls Stay in touch!
A selection of our
2020 Members Emmaleen Murray Asti Evandri Salma Hammou Noelle Berk Renee Clarke (Life Member) Jodie Mellor Michelle McCarthy (Life Member) Tara Collins Leah Thompson Yuko Nakahata Tricia ORourke Rini Slamet Angie Teeple Esti McMillan Kerryn Filmer Catrin Davies Louise Kennedy (Life Member) Cora Brady-Robeau
Emmaleen Murray Member since 2014 Auckland, NZ Marketing & Communications Berita Editor President 2017
Sadly 2020 has marked an end to my family’s Indonesian adventure, after six wonderful years. As schools, offices and international borders were closing in March, we made a last-minute decision to relocate to NZ temporarily. We landed in time for the first lockdown and survived the ups and downs of homeschooling, working and living in close quarters for several weeks. Weeks turned to months and early repatriation became our reality. We have now packed* the last of our belongings in Jakarta and are settling into our new home.
ANZA played a major part in our Jakarta life and we have made so many amazing friends. I was hoping to enjoy one last party at ANZA House but we will just have to take a raincheck.
Wherever you are in the world, I hope you are keeping well. *shout out to Asian Tigers Mobility for their excellent remote packing service.
He aha te mea nui o te ao He tangata, he tangata, he tangata What is the most important thing in the world? It is the people, it is the people, it is the people ~MÄ ori proverb.
Asti Evandri Member since 2020 From: Nundah, Brisbane Currently in Jakarta.
The Covid experience has clearly took over any of this year’s memories. It's a very special year filled with a lot of activities around home, with a most used phrase 'you're on mute!'. My name is Asti - Indonesian descent, myself and family migrated to Australia about 15 years ago and here we are now back in Jakarta. We're relocated to Jakarta for my husband work assignment about 3 years ago but only joined ANZA this year. I was hoping I could get more connections and involve in ANZA activities in the future.
My daughter Zoey is 9 yrs old and she is currently enrolled at JIS. The image above was snapped by the School photographer during a family activity earlier this year (before COVID), the photo ended up on the school’s Facebook and I thought I would recycle it.
Salma Hammou Member since: 2019 From: Rabat, Morocco Currently in Jakarta I first heard of ANZA house from one of my Australian friends a few years ago, as we both had small babies the same age and she suggested we go there for kids playdate on Wednesdays. Since then I started attending the sessions as much as I could. The first thing you feel when you enter ANZA house is how everyone is so helpful and friendly and they make you feel at ease and welcomed. However, since my daughter now goes to school for longer hours, I’ve found that I had enough time to volunteer, and be surrounded by amazing people made the decision easier.
I started volunteering at front desk and with membership admin. The experience was great to be honest and fulfilling. I cannot wait for the ANZA house to reopen so we can all be back again like the good old days.
From Left to Right: As one of the models for Australian Embassy fashion fundraiser; with bookclub ladies, helping with school family day booth
Noelle Berk Member since: 2020 From: Washington, DC, USA Currently in Jakarta I tried on my wedding dress on Friday the 13th of March. I didn’t know that three days later I’d go into work for the last time ever! After rescheduling our May wedding to July (hah!) and then postponing indefinitely, we had no idea if our plans
to move to the other side of the world would come through. I spent four months providing virtual speech therapy services and was abruptly told our move would be going as scheduled. In the craziest two weeks of my life, we packed up everything we owned and hopped on a plane (with masks, and sanitizer, and wipes, and a visa that arrived 3 days before the flight!) We came to Jakarta amid a global pandemic not knowing what to expect. As I was finding my footing and exploring ways to get involved I was welcomed into ANZA. While I have yet to meet any other members in person, it has been great to connect virtually and I look forward to future events! My husband, Ben, and I (we had a legal marriage months before COVID hit so we could prepare for the move) have enjoyed finding a couple of small weekend getaways to explore more of our new country and can’t wait to see all Indonesia has to offer!
Renee Clarke Member since: 2014 ANZA Life Member From: Perth, Australia, Currently hiding out in Perth WA with my husband and two boys ANZA Member: 2014-current Ball coordinator: 2017-2019 House manager: 2018-2019 President: 2020-current Wow what a year 2020 has been!! We started off on a high having spent Christmas at Santa’s village in Lapland, New Years in Edinburgh and a trip to Paris Disney on our way back to Jakarta in January. I was looking forward to being involved in another amazing ball, and we had lots of ideas for regular Sunday sessions at the house and continuing the Friday night drinks. I was hoping I could improve my Mahjong game and just was up for another great Jakarta year with all the fabulous friends we have there.
Then March came….school closed two weeks early as the first cases were reported in Jakarta, so we thought let's pop home to Perth to see my parents……well, two weeks later the world changed and 9 months on we are still here in the same airbnb.
We have had many trips down south and a trip to Broome, my children have spent quality time with their grandparents and cousins and we have really enjoyed the freedom and all the good Aussie food (maybe a little too much hehe)
To be honest this has been a wonderful place to be, being here in Perth is great.
Home schooling has taken its toll and I am hoping the kids can return to some
sort of new normal school next year, watching my friends pack out remotely has been a tough one also, not being able to have a series of goodbye lunches and drinks to say farewell makes it all feel unfinished. We are now booked and heading home to Jakarta on New Years Eve. I am looking forward to helping ANZA develop a 'new normal' way of operating so that we can get back to doing what we do best. I am hopeful we can have a Ball and Melbourne Cup next year even if they look a little different, and hopefully welcome new members that we can help settle into the amazing place we all know Jakarta and ANZA to be.
Mahjong, food tasting at ANZA with Emmaleen Murray, with Tania Goodacre at Alice in Wonderland Ball 2018, with Michelle McCarthy at ANZA House Bogan Bingo 2019
Jodie Mellor Member since 2016 From: Perth, Australia Currently in Perth Australia.
We left Jakarta in March to come back to Perth for Easter. We came a little early due to the whisper of COVID-19. I didn’t say goodbye to any of my friends and only took what we thought we needed for our holiday. Fast forward a few months and it became apparent my kids and I wouldn’t be heading back to Jakarta. We had our house packed up remotely and we are now settled back in Perth. We have been very lucky here in the West to be spared the worst of COVID-19 so far and have been very fortunate to have spent so much time with our family.
COVID-19 has had some positives for our family, we are expecting baby #3 in April 2021! We thoroughly enjoyed our time in Jakarta and it was all because of the people we met. Being an expat can be scary and lonely and I was quite literally saved by ANZA. We really weren’t ready to end our Jakarta stint and hope to be back to say hi very soon. Until next time xx
Michelle McCarthy Member since 2013 ANZA Life Member From: Singapore Currently in Hobart, Tasmania. Social Welfare Treasurer: 2013-2017 Sponsorship Coordinator: 2018-2019 Membership Coordinator: 2020-current
I never would have predicted a year like this. A year of snap decisions. Of reactionary decisions. The year we decided to throw caution to the wind and continue on with our ski holiday to Japan in March (despite it having been declared a state of emergency) - in retrospect, best decision ever!. The year we made our life altering decision to flee Jakarta for a ‘couple of months’… The year we spent 2 months in Brisbane and then snuck into Tassie to make a last visit to my in-laws before returning to Jakarta, only to decide a few weeks later when they announced more home schooling in Jakarta, to enrol our 3 kids into my husband’s old primary school. He still can’t believe it!
We have been so fortunate to have been able to spend this time here in Tasmania, sealed away from the Corona. For me, it’s been eye opening to realise that despite my ‘learned helplessness’ - a phrase I learnt a few years back from an ANZA member that I can do my own cooking, laundry and dishes and drive my own car and survive! We’re still due in Jakarta for a couple more years, but when we’ll pull the plug on our Aussie sojourn is anyone’s guess.
What I miss about ANZA? The friendly ladies at front desk - always ready for a chat and way more friendly than actual Australians in Australia! My go-big-or-go-home drunken ANZA Ball night. Based on last year’s event, it would have been AMAZING! Feeling like part of a team - there are so many talented people on the various committees in ANZA!
Decorating committee for Halloween Night 2019 (Tricia ORourke, Julia Davis, Michelle, Zani van Staden); with Renee Clarke at Halloween Night 2019; ANZA Christmas Lunch 2019 at Australian Embassy Residence; Trying out body combat class at ANZA 2019; with Clare Chalfont (Melbourne Cup Coordinator) and Asian Tigers set up crew 2019.
Clockwise from top left: ‘Working' with new wine sponsor to select wines with Clare Chalfont, Lenka Proskova, Kerryn Filmer for ANZA Ball 2019; Paint and Sip class at ANZA House 2019, with husband Jonathon at Alice in Wonderland Ball 2018, Christmas Lunch with Santas - Mark Filmer & Adrian Polden 2019; Zumba class at ANZA House 2018.
new job, and with ANZA); and for the time we’ve enjoyed in beautiful Queensland.
Tara Collins Member since 2020 From: Darwin, Australia Currently in Gold Coast, Australia I moved to Jakarta in Nov 2019, finally joining my partner Phil (after a year of long distance while I was still working in Australia). I was really excited about the year ahead: we had plans to explore the lesser-trodden parts of Indonesia, I’d settled into a rhythm of thrice-weekly Bahasa lessons, and I’d been offered a great new work opportunity. I’d also decided to join ANZA to make friends, and even – on a whim! – put my hand up to take on the Social Welfare Director role. But our best-laid plans weren’t meant to be: on the very day I was due to commence in the office, my entire organization shifted to working from home as the threat of Covid became clear. Then, three days later, came the news from Phil’s company: all expat staff would be returning home – for how long, who knew?! And so we boarded our flight back to Australia, with hurriedly-packed suitcases in hand.
I’d met the Social Welfare team briefly at the March committee meeting, but the role was still very new to me. With ANZA House closed, we quickly shifted our meetings to online. The wonderful Zani (former Social Welfare director) made sure I had all the information necessary for a smooth handover. The committee did our best to continue supporting all our projects from afar – a task not without major challenges along the way. 2020 has had highs and lows. I’ve been grateful that my family and friends are healthy and safe; that I’ve been able to continue working remotely (both for my
But I’ve also found myself wondering what could have been for our life together in Jakarta. I would’ve loved to visit our social welfare projects in person; to see for myself the wonderful work ANZA has been doing with these communities over the years. And, like many others, I’m still not sure what 2021 will look like for us – here’s hoping a return to Jakarta will be on the cards at some point..
Leah Thompson Member since 2016 From: Australia Currently in Jakarta.
My family and I decided to start isolating in mid-March, thinking that a couple of weeks would do the trick in helping Jakarta stop the spread of covid-19 (spoiler alert: we were wrong). Only 2 weeks into the lockdown we found out we were expecting our 2nd child! This was really exciting news, however I hadn’t expected to be really sick, homeschool my 4 year old and be stuck in a small apartment with our house renovations being paused, for several months on end. Due to the pregnancy and my husband having only Indonesian citizenship, staying together as a family in Jakarta was the right choice for us (though it’s difficult seeing how good life is in Australia now). A few months in, with our sanity holding by a string, we started a “covid bubble” of having a few close friends to meet regularly at home. A whole 9 months later we are still in
some level of quarantine, but we are about to experience the greatest joy of our 2nd baby joining us any day now. So 2020 hasn’t been all bad. Hopefully 2021 will have even more joys and our baby will be able to meet my family. It’s been sad to say abrupt goodbyes to many friends that have left Jakarta due to the pandemic, but I’m looking forward to meeting them again overseas when it’s possible, and making more friends at ANZA playgroup when we can. Take care everyone!
Yuko Nakahata Member since 2006 From: Japan Currently in Jakarta. Having learnt bridge at ANZA some 13 years ago, Yuko helped to teach a new generation of ANZA bridge players in 2019 and early 2020.
Yuko with Michelle McCarthy, Richa Rawani and Rini Slamet at ANZA Bridge Club 2019
Tricia ORourke From Sydney, Australia Member since 2018 Currently back in Sydney riding out the pandemic.
2020 has been one heck of a year. A mad pack up and dash back from Jakarta to Sydney on the last direct flight out as COVID was hitting. Sadly had to send someone in last week to do a final pack up of apartment as lease was up and still not sure if/when we will be back. A few positives from it all is the time we are getting to spend with family, the numerous jobs around the house that are being ticked off the list and a health issue that was diagnosed whilst home that I’m so thankful that I’m back in Australia for, with our wonderful healthcare. As a result of all that’s happened this year I have resolved to make the most of everything, never to take anything for granted, enjoy friends and family and
the simple things in life and spend a lot more time travelling/ exploring locally. ANZA was my “home” whilst in Jakarta. A place where you could always find a welcoming smiling face. A great cuppa and scone. Someone to chat to and people to have fun with. A place to gain information on anything and everything and to always find a listening ear. It was a little oasis in the sometimes chaotic and frenetic Jakarta.
I miss those days and hopefully may get a chance to revisit sometime in 2021.
Rini Slamet Member since 2018 From: Melbourne, Australia Currently in Melbourne, Australia. I am currently stuck in Melbourne Australia, since pandemic Covid19. In 2017 I went to ANZA for the Social Coffee Friday. It's a great place to meet people and make friends from different backgrounds and nationalities. Later on joining Social Welfare, I found interesting activities and was excited to help with some projects such as: • interviewing students for scholarships
together with Ibu Mien from Yayasan Goodwill; • Teaching kids of 6 years old and
below every Thursday at Yayasan Kampung Kids. Initially the kids were so timid, shy, and quiet. After several meetings they became more relaxed, engaged and willing to communicate to us; • Helping with the Pasar Murah event
was so much fun and rewarding. The
Pasar Murah usually starts very early at 7am so I had to arrive at 6.30am at the latest. Especially felt fantastic the day we earned up to close to 6 millions rupiahs, happy customers happy us; • I had great time visiting Yayasan
Pusaka together with Sylvia, Gabriella and Linda to check on their cooking menus, how many rantang (tiffin carriers) were being prepared, and sometimes met the elderly, had chit chat and great laughs with them. There are ANZA events that I enjoyed, Anza Ball 2018, Australian & Waitangi BBQ Day, and the annual before Christmas Bazaars. The last ANZA event I went to before flying to Melbourne was Christmas Lunch at Australian Embassy in December 2019,
the food was plentiful and wonderful, my mouth waters thinking of it now. I had a good time helping Michelle contacting companies who can sponsor ANZA. I wish I could help more, it wasn't easy but it had been a wonderful experience. I joined the bridge club and it was fun. Resolution for 2021: I would like to get involved a bit more with Balarenik and the refugees projects, since I live closer to Bogor and Cipayung. At this stage I'm not too sure when I can go back to Indonesia and visit ANZA House.
Angie Teeple Member since 2020 From: South Carolina, USA Currently in Jakarta.
I initially arrived in Jakarta in January 2020. After being in temporary housing and then moving into our apartment at Plaza Senayan, I was able to come to the ANZA house exactly one time before my husband’s company asked us to “temporarily” relocate back to the US due to Covid! Even though I had only been to ANZA house one time, I had felt the warmth of community and knew that I wanted to get to know the members better and participate in a group that would enrich my time in Jakarta and help me give back to a country that is now my home. Coming back to Jakarta 5 months later in the midst of Covid was a bit daunting, but I can truly say that ANZA members (some whom I’ve yet to meet in person) helped me tremendously. I
Joining ANZA Adventures for a trip to Tanah Abang fabric market in March 2020
look forward to getting to know those who are in Jakarta and those who will be returning to Jakarta or newly coming to Jakarta in the months to come. I’m also grateful for past members that have paved the way before us.
Esti McMillan Member since: 1997 From Sydney Currently living in Jakarta
I arrived from Sydney with my family in March 1997. I joined ANZA then and the number used to be huge around 700 or so members. We used to do once a month coffee morning for all members at the old Regent Hotel which no longer existed. Way back then, Melbourne Cup was the anticipated event of the year with real fashion shows and people got waitlisted to attend. I have participated in the old time Melbourne Cup as model and it was lots of fun. I also used to help with the Orphanage and visited them every Wednesday.
We have gone through the riot in 1998, bombing in Bali, several Presidents got elected over a period of time, first and second bombing in Jakarta which since then reduced the number of ANZA members drastically but ANZA has always been fun and great place for newcomers to make friends. And I am still here up till now!
Esti walking the runway at ANZA Melbourne Cup in 1997
Kerryn Filmer Member since 2018 Currently in Sydney Vice President 2018 President 2019
I left Jakarta in March 2020, due to Covid. Mark and I came back to Sydney. We spent 4 months living in airbnb apartments, while Mark continued in his role with CCAI. In August he resigned, and we were looking forward to “retirement�. But... we were too young to do nothing. We are now working some casual shifts at a local club, doing pretty much what we used to do at an ANZA happy hour: serving drinks, and talking to members and guests....( probably in my case, talking first, serving second). We are really enjoying being back with family, and loving being grandparents.
Kerryn & Mark Filmer with Adrian & Kim Polden at Christmas lunch 2019
I enjoyed my time in Jakarta including making friends with other expats at ANZA. The shopping expeditions, the fundraising social events, the opportunities to meet with various charitable organisations and the time spent building relationships at the Embassy and with Sponsorship companies were all integral to my happiness.
Everyone that I came into contact with either directly or indirectly through ANZA contributed to making Jakarta memorable. Long term friendships were made. Thank you.
Clockwise from top left: On shopping expedition; with Michelle McCarthy building new relationships with ANZA sponsors; tending bar at ANZA happy hour; visiting ANZA social welfare projects.
Catrin Davies ANZA Member since: 2017 From: Wales, UK Currently living in Jakarta, but home in the UK for Christmas
The first time I wore a facemask in 2020 was on my way to ANZA in a taxi for the Sip and Paint painting workshop. General consensus was that COVID-19 had already reached Indonesia although it wasn't official. It was a great evening and would also end up being the last time I saw my closest friend, Tanja, in Jakarta as, like so many, she left Indonesia permanently shortly after. Our two little ones, Idris and Tara, were very close having met at ANZA Playgroup and still love to see each other on video calls. Fingers crossed for more sipping and painting at ANZA in 2021 and to meet up with Tanja and Tara elsewhere in the world!
Catrin (4th from left) and Tanja (5th from left) at the last Paint and Sip event before COVID-19. Their children Idris and Tara playing at ANZA.
Louise Kennedy ANZA Life Member Member since: 2007 From: UK Currently living in Jakarta Student Sponsorship Program Co-ordinator 2007-current
Santi, Erica Miller, Sylvia Joachim, Louise Kennedy distributing end of year gifts and bonuses to the ANZA student sponsorship kids at SD MKCR in Kebon Jeruk in 2019.
Volunteering at ANZA has been a wonderful experience for me.
socially and also does so much good in Jakarta.
I came to Jakarta knowing nobody and I instantly made friends and found things to do. I love that ANZA provides a chance for people to get together
I've met so many lovely people and I have been involved in some amazing projects. I hope we can get back to some sort of normal in 2021 and ANZA
continues its role as a friendly and inclusive centre for people from all over the world.
ANZA Student Sponsorship Program The ANZA Student Sponsorship Program was started in 1988 by Marilyn Ardipradja, the first Life Member of ANZA. The aim of the program is to provide local children in Jakarta, Indonesia, with the chance to improve their lives through education. The program is managed in-house by a team of ANZA Members and supports students at schools where ANZA already has a strong involvement and relationship, so that we can ensure sponsorship donations are used as intended. For more information or to sponsor a student, please email us on anzastudentsponsorship@gmail.com. Worldwide payment options available.
Cora Brady-Robeau Member since 2018 From Ireland Currently in Oman Like many families 2020 began with a celebration with family. We had traveled to Australia to visit my husband's family and our daughter from The Netherlands. We celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary and looked forward to what the New year would bring. Friday 13th March was the last day of Face to Face teaching at BSJ, COVID is in Jakarta. Online learning becomes the norm, worldwide. In April my husband has been offered a job in Oman and we look forward to our move. Social distancing and mask wearing becomes compulsory and the norm. ANZA Zoom becomes a lifeline to the outside world as we are living in PIK so isolation is a problem. In June Oman closed its border to all nonresidents. We cannot enter until visas are processed. It was a long wait.
Last photo of family together in Boonah, QLD, New Years 2020. Little did we know!
We packed up our home in Jakarta down sizing as much as we can. Thanks to the generosity of Michelle and her family and Buddy (their fantastic dog) we were able to move to Kemang and wait until we can relocate. Friday morning Zoom coffee at 10am, is firmly in my calendar. The support was immeasurable.
October 3rd my husband's work visa comes through and he flies out on October 7th. My son and I must wait. He has to do his schooling online from Oman in Jakarta (11:15 to 18:20). Staying in Kemang made it easier but still, like many, he found it very hard to stay focused. My job was and is to encourage him.
November 16th our visas come through to enter Oman, but first we must pass our PCR test. This is not to be for my son. After 8 months of barely seeing anyone and leaving the house only once in the previous month, he tests positive, weak positive but positive all the same. Therefore we are quarantined for 10 days. Again the support from the ANZA ladies and our housing compound was amazing. Retest is negative and on the 2nd of December we say our farewells to Jakarta one more time. My son had his first Face to Face school lesson on the 13th December, 9 months between. Best wishes to everyone in ANZA wherever you are. Stay healthy and safe.
A Tribute to ANZA Balls Before we say goodbye, let’s remember the fun times we had together at the ANZA Ball in the last few years.
2019 Under the Sea Ball
2018 Alice in Wonderland Ball
2017 Prohibition Ball
2016 Circus Ball
2015 Groovy Ball - (top left: Ball Committee)
2014 Fairy tale Ball
2013 ANZA Wool Shed Ball
Stay connected with old friends - join the Facebook group for ANZA Jakarta Alumni