QUEENSLAND'S GERMAN CONNECTIONS - PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

Diplomatic relations in Queensland since 1855

Sir John’s key departure from his predecessors was that he did not have German roots nor spoke the German language. But his main responsibility as Honorary Consul ( Ehrenkonsul , one who works for a living in his own profession) was to both represent and create a renewed interest in close ties between Germany and Queensland. With Sir John’s achievements, one couldn’t have wished for a better representative in Brisbane of the new, postwar Federal Republic of Germany. For the everyday work in the consulate he needed an efficient and knowledgeable person so, from ‘day one’ in 1960, Elsa Armstrong took on the role of assisting her countrymen and women and all the tasks that come with running a consular office. She retired in 1983 – little wonder that she was often referred to as “the German Consulate”! Ursula Rekort/Sterf followed Elsa, upholding the high standards which she and Sir John had set. Three years later, Sir John Rowell retired at 70, after no less than 26 years’ service as Honorary Consul, succeeded by Christopher Featherstone, Queensland Manager of Munich Reinsurance. The highlight of his tenure was undoubtedly Expo’88, when the level of German participation – both from abroad and the local social and business communities – brought an enormous amount of added work, and increased consular services. After 10 years, another change at the helm took place in 1996: new Honorary Consul Erik Finger ao, the former head of the Premier’s Department and long-serving Commissioner for Main Roads, brought valuable connections to the Queensland Parliament to his role and was a well-respected representative for both countries. In March 2002, Detlef Sulzer was appointed as successor to Erik Finger. He had many years’ extensive involvement in consular events, was well known throughout the German community and had acted as president of a number of groups such as SAGSE (Society for Australian-German Student Exchange). He was also the first German citizen and native speaker in 42 years.The role was reinvigorated as he sought to assist and support Germans in difficulties, whether through accident, illness, death or legal problems. Other, no less important, consular office tasks include certification of signatures and photocopies, translation of driver’s licenses, applications for police clearance, passport and dual citizenship applications, and collection and processing of information regarding visas, divorces, births, marriages, etc, which can be handled only through the Consulate-General in Sydney.

The Consulate is also the first point of contact for a range of matters, from family research to enquiries about studying in Germany, and there are strong bonds to schools teaching German, to universities and cultural groups active in Queensland. Foreign consular missions and diplomatic delegations increasingly choose Brisbane over other Australian capital cities for conferences, functions and other activities. In such cases, the Honorary Consul often takes on the role of host and representative of Germany. In March 2010 Ursula Sterf retired after 27 years of Consulate work, handing over the office reins to Claudia Lüttringhaus. With this came a newly- refurbished office and new biometric equipment to process a new generation of German passports with fingerprints. On 3 October 2012, Detlef Sulzer retired at 70, after an energetic decade as Germany’s Honorary Consul, passing the flame to Professor Michael Schütz. Former Consul-General Hans-Günther Gnodtke (left) with Ursula Sterf and Detlef Sulzer.

Welcome to the next chapter and the new faces of Germany’s representation in Queensland: Honorary Consul Michael Schütz with Claudia Lüttringhaus, Manager of Consular Affairs

181