CubaMinrex. Sitio del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Cuba

Brisbane, Australia, celebrates 50 years of the Cuban Revolution

AUSTRALIA, 20 de enero del 2009. On Saturday 10 January, around 90 members and friends of the Brisbane Branch of the Australia-Cuba Friendship Society celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution with a night of music, speeches and dancing in a hall decorated with photos, posters and Cuban flags.

The president of the Brisbane Branch of the friendship society, Lachlan Hurse, recalled the significance of the revolution in the shifting structures of world power following World War Two and the struggle in the Americas against US imperialism within the cold war context. He spoke of the stong presence of the Cuban Revolution in the struggle for socialism in Latin America and the tremendous achievements in the last 50 years.

Lachlan also spoke of the incresing presence of Cuba in the Pacific region, with training programs for doctors from East Timorese and Kiribati. He welcomed the opening of the Cuban Embassy in Canberra, with the expectation of increasing cooperation between Australia and Cuba.

Fraternal greetings were given by representatives of the Communist Party of Australia, the Revolutionary Socialist Party, Australian representatives of the FMLN and the URNG. Messages of support were also received from the Electical Trades Union, and the Cuban Consulate.

Guest performers included songs from Leonor Orellana, who gave a wonderful rendition of the song 'La Victoria' by Sara Gonzalez, and songs of Pablo Milanés presented by Ovidio Orellana. Juan Zepeda played 'Hasta Siempre' and the group Jumping Fences performed their song 'Just Go Gently' with the singer Sue Monk dedicating it to the tenacity of the Cuban people in maintaining their revolutionary achievements.

The celebrations included a toast to the Cuban Revolution, the cutting of a cake in the design of a Cuban flag, and culminated with the whole audience singing 'Guantanamera'

(Cubaminrex- Consulcuba Australia)

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