Members Biographies
Stuart Forsyth - (PRESIDENT)
Ph: 02-6247 1079 / bforsyth1@iinet.net.au
Gail Tregear - (VICE PRESIDENT)
Gail is a Canberra native with a dependant cat, Orlando. As the International Racing and Sumo correspondent for www.racingandsports.com.au she travels to Japan at least twice a year to cover international race meetings. She is the Publicity Officer for the Canberra Symphony Orchestra and still works occasionally at ANU. She has an interest in ceramics as both a practicing potter and a writer on ceramics.
Michael Hodgkin - (TREASURER)
Michael is one half of the Anne and Michael Hodgkin combo. They have a long-standing interest in Japanese language and culture. Anne teaches Japanese language at St Monica's Primary School, Evatt and Michael is the Executive Officer of the National Trust of Australia (ACT).
Since 1986 Anne & Michael have hosted a substantial number of Japanese students, teaching assistants and visitors (60? 70? They've lost count), for varying periods (the longest being 3 years) and, as a consequence, have friends scattered throughout Japan. Both Anne and Michael love travelling, especially in Japan, so tend to pop over to Japan whenever they can think up a good excuse and/or enough money. Both of them are still trying, without a great deal of success, to persuade their ageing brains to absorb a reasonable level of the Japanese language.
Email: mhodgkin@pcug.org.au
Ms Elaine Ward - (SECRETARY)
Elaine opened a parcel in 1960 from her Japanese grandmother, revealing 2 kokeshii and a postcard of Itsukushima shrine. That led to her love of all things Japanese and eventually graduating in Economics/Japanese Studies from the University of Western Australia. Elaine has been in the Commonwealth Public Service for 30 years and has promoted and managed a number of Japanese government exchanges, fellowships and joint research projects.
In 2006 Elaine was appointed the Executive Director of the Australia Japan Foundation and renewed her interest building and maintaining the important relationship. She still works in the Public Service, but these days she is responsible for a country a little south of Japan.
Megan Vidgen - (COMITTEE)
Megan’s love for Japan began after her first experience as an exchange student to Hiroshima Prefecture for one year in 1993. After thoroughly enjoying her year in Japan she completed year 11 and 12 at Batemans Bay High School and continued to study Japanese via correspondence through the Open High School. After high school Megan enrolled in a Bachelor of Asian Studies (Japanese Specialist) at the ANU and in her third year attended Kansai University as an exchange student for one year in 1998. In 1999 Megan received a Japanese Government Scholarship to study at Kanazawa University for one year under the “Japanese Studies Category”.
On her return to the ANU she completed her honours thesis on contemporary Japanese society and graduated in April 2002. After graduation she participated in the JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching) Program as a Coordinator for International Relations for three years in Kochi Prefecture. After returning home from Kochi, she was the National JET Program Coordinator at the Embassy of Japan and is currently employed at the Department of Education, Science and Training.
Email: meganv11@hotmail.com or Phone: (H) 6295 0665
Hiroko Fischer - (PAST PRESIDENT)
Hiroko gained a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Kunitachi College of Music in Tokyo. She taught music near Tokyo for 3 years before returning to Okinawa, where she taught at the University of Ryukyu's. She obtained a US government scholarship and gained a Master of Science in Education degree from the State University of New York at Potsdam. Hiroko is a long-serving member of the AJS in Canberra, having occupied one of the Vice-President's positions for several years, was most recently President, and currently works as a private music and Japanese language teacher.
Fax: 02-6259 1900 Ph: 02-6259 1674; hfischer@ozemail.com.au
Clayton Balmain - (WEBMASTER)
Went to Japan as an eikaiwa teacher for Aeon after graduating from Sydney University, the intention being to stay for a maximum 12 months. Initially couldn't speak a word of Japanese and had very little interest in Japanese culture, it didn't take long before Japan grew to be more than a working holiday destination. After a year with Aeon, changed to the JET Program and worked in Aomori-ken for two years. Now knows more about Japan than Australia, still doesn't speak a word of Japanese. Currently working at the Japanese Embassy.
Ph: 0403 722 403 / cgbalmain@gmail.com
Eriko Prior - (COMMITTEE)
Eriko has been living in Australia over 30 years and since arriving in Canberra in 1988, she has been working in the Information & Cultural Section at the Embassy of Japan. She is very keen to assist her fellow members in organising social events, in particular activities such as the Australia-Japan Goodwill Golf Day in September.
Ph: (H) 02-6231 5368 (W) 02-6272 7268 eriko.prior@japan.org.au
Barbara Forsyth - (COMMITTEE)
Barbara left the USA in 1969 to study and work Japan, where she remained until 1978. Initially studying Japanese language and culture at Waseda University, she then worked as an English teacher and studied Zen Buddhism, Eastern Medicine and Japanese Cookery. She returned to Australia in 1979 and is currently working in her own catering business and also teaches Japanese cooking.
Ph: 02-6247 1079 / bforsyth1@iinet.net.au