Jemma Purdey
Tell us about yourself!
I live in Brunswick in Melbourne with my family. I have three children and a cat called kucing. I run a short film festival (see above to learn more about ReelOzInd!) and co-host a podcast among other things…
Where does your interest in Indonesia stem from?
In the early 1990s I visited Malaysia on a short-term exchange. As a teenager I was interested in politics and international relations and an active member of Amnesty International. When I got to university all those interests came together in a desire to study Indonesian and learn more about our regional neighbours, including Indonesia.
Have you ever been to an Indonesia Council Open Conference and if so, what is your fondest memory?
I was on the committee that organised what became the inaugural ICOC at Melbourne University in 2001. The committee included fellow PhD student Kate McGregor, Charles Coppel, Harry Aveling and others and Herb Feith presented the opening keynote lecture. My fondest memory of ICOC was the 2013 conference at Deakin University at Geelong Waterfront. I was the convenor and along with colleagues, student volunteers and members of Geelong’s Indonesian community we welcomed hundreds of delegates from across Australia, plus many Indonesians that year. Alongside the academic program there was an exciting cultural and arts program including photography and art exhibitions and dance performance. The Indonesian Ambassador to Australia opened the conference. It was great fun and there was a warmth and collegiality that unique to the ICOC.
How do you think organisations like Indonesia Council can improve Australia-Indonesia relations?
From personal experience I know that organisations like IC and others improve Australia-Indonesia relations. For IC this is through forging connections across and between academic institutions and individuals, and also reaching out to the Indonesian diaspora communities in Australia. Relative to other places around the world, Australia has a rich cohort of ‘Indonesia-literate’ people and organisations like IC provide a platform for us to come together to share and expand our knowledge. ‘Australia-Indonesia relations’ does not necessarily mean government-to-government relations. Rather, I see the great value of these organisations in what we can contribute to building people-to-people links and contributing to deepening broader understandings of our countries in each place.
What are some of the challenges and opportunities in the Indonesia-Australia relationship?
The major challenge I see is also a great opportunity for those of us who work with or on ‘Indonesia’ in Australia. How can we contribute to expanding and deepening our fellow Australians’ knowledge about Indonesia (and vice versa for Indonesians who ‘know’ Australia)? For decades now, we have talked about our gap in knowledge about each other. We also know that more and varied connections through people-to-people links, cultural experiences and so on will forge deeper understandings. There are so many opportunities for Australians and Indonesians to expand on existing connections and forge new links in this space.
What’s your favourite Indonesian music/song/writer?
I’m going to choose a film director and screenwriter. Kamila Andini. She is part of a generation of filmmakers including Yosep Anngi Noen, Edwin and others who are making a mark internationally with her acclaimed films such as Sekala Niskala (Seen and Unseen) (2017) and Yuni (2021).
[Last month’s PAY IT FORWARD question]:
What is your weirdest and/or funniest experience when you travelled to Indonesia?
Mmm. Too difficult to choose, but it probably involved a long-distance bus or boat trip and some live animals…or maybe a karaoke lounge!
PAY IT FORWARD: Finally, it’s YOUR turn to ask a question… Please suggest a question we can ask our next member!
What’s one thing you’d say to persuade a 13-year-old Australian who is deciding between studying Indonesian and French to choose Indonesian?