Australia China
Friendship Society
South Australia
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The ACFS has a strong relationship with the Embassy and the Consulates of the Peoples Republic of China.
At the invitation of the Chinese Peoples Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and ACFS leads a ‘Prominent Persons’ Delegations to China with a view to establishing longer term relationships in education and business. Over the years South Australia has been represented by a Mayor, a member of the Legislative Council and University Professors. As a consequence many exchanges and joint ventures have been initiated.
The Prominent Persons Delegations are taken very seriously by our Chinese counterparts and inevitably visits are arranged with city leaders and dignitaries. The most recent delegation attended a banquet in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Australia and China.
The University of South Australia has taken a leading role in establishing research and student involvement with China.
The ACFS has been instrumental in providing opportunities for education contact between schools in SA and Shandong Province. Four study tours have been organised by the ACFS involving over one hundred students and teachers from more than a dozen SA schools and colleges with resulting sister school relationships being established. The Society is also proud to have been a foundation member of the federation of Chinese organisation of South Australia (FOCOSA). Members of the Chinese Community in South Australia have warmly welcomed the ACFS as a fully participating member of the Chinese organisation in South Australia.
In 1985 a special delegation of the South Australian branch was invited to Shandong Province which led to the process for SA and Shandong becoming ‘sister states’.The delegation returned with a formal message to be delivered to the Premier Mr John Bannon, that the Provincial Government of Shandong was very interested in forming a special relationship with South Australia. Following a visit to China by the Head of the Premiers Department, Mr Bruce Guerin, this relationship was formally established in 1986. The ACFS was proud to play such a formative role in the process. The ACFS continues to play a key role in non-governmental diplomacy between Australia and China.
Travelling to China is the best way to learn to appreciate the history and cultures of this fascinating country.
The ACFS remains the oldest China Tour Operator and for many years was the only one. Although there is now a competitive market for china tours the quality of tours offered by the ACFS has been sustained.
The first Australia – China Society branch was formed in 1951 in Melbourne, January 1952 a provisional branch committee was established in Sydney. The branch in South Australia was founded on the 25 February, 1966 and today every state and territory has a dedicated and hard working branch.
The original aims of the Society were:
Roy Baynes was a founding member and long serving secretary who assisted in the collection and transportation of free books to China, sent in tea chests on Chinese grain ships. Over time a quarter of a million volumes were sent to China.
Charlott Hantken was a key organiser of an ACFS study group in the 1970’s that met and studied different aspects of China, such as its economy and culture.
Following her death the Society assisted in the formation of a collection of books on China, now housed at the State Library and dedicated to the memory of Roy Baynes following his death.
The great South Australian Sir Walter Crocker assisted in the society in many ways, and acted as a patron for many years. He recommended Roy for the Medal of the Order of Australia for his services to international relations. Roy accepted the award to help recognise the Society’s work and help establish the standing and credibility of the society.
Don Littledye is another well known South Australia who gave a great deal of his time and energy to the ACFS, particularly after his retirement as a news reader with the ABC.
Charlie and Lilian McCaffrey were prominent early pioneers promoting friendship and understanding with China. Lilian was the first Secretary/Treasurer of the ACFS and Charlie started up the East Bookshop in Rundle Street, providing the public with publications from China.
In those early days, the members of the ACFS were ‘under suspicion’ for wanting to make contact with and seek a better understanding of the emerging, socialist Chinese nation and were routinely scrutinised by ASIO.
