The
festival
is organised by the Thai Culture and Food Festival Inc,
(“TCFFI”) a not-for-profit Association incorporated
in Victoria, registration number A 0045167B. TCFFI
is registered with the Australian Taxation Office for
GST and has its own ABN 94093924030.
The members and committee of TCFFI are involved with a
variety of Thai related community and business
Associations in Victoria.
The
Patron of the Thai Culture and Food Festival inc. is His Excellency
Bandhit Sotipalalit, Ambassador of Thailand to Australia.
The
Honorary Chairman of the Festival Committee is Dr Simon Wallace, Hon
Thai Consul General, Victoria.
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With
a growing Thai community in Melbourne of over 10,000,
including thousands of Thai students studying here,
over 260 restaurants and the close relationship that
Thailand and Australia have, through travel, trade ,
education and defence, this event will enable the
communities to celebrate the traditional Songkran
festival, as well as learning more about Thai culture
and Food.
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Australia is now the No.1 destination
for Thai students studying overseas, with Victoria
receiving over 45% of all Thai students.
-
The recently signed
Free Trade Agreement between Australia and
Thailand, which started in January 2005, has significantly increased the already substantial trade,
education and defence links.
-
This Festival is
but one event in the annual calendar of Thai celebrations
held in Melbourne and in Thai communities world-wide.
Other significant events include the birthdays
of His Majesty the King of Thailand (December) and Her
Majesty the Queen of Thailand (August) as well as the
annual Loy Krathong Festival (November).
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For more details on
these celebrations check out the websites at
www.thaivic.com
and www.vicnet.net.au/~atai
