Congratulations to Thomas Klein of Fairmont Hotels & to the Australian American Chamber of Commerce of San Francisco

Last night the Australian American Chamber of Commerce of San Francisco held its 2012 Chevron
Australia Day Ball compered by the excellent Melburnian/Victorian actor-singer-director Cameron Daddo.
Cameron was the perfect compere engaging the full house with his humour and music. I commend him to
anyone looking for a compere for events in the U.S.A. I thank him for his support in my role as Commissioner.

The Chamber awarded its Ambassador Bill Lane Spirit of Australia Award to Thomas Klein, regional
vice president, California for Fairmont Hotels. Thomas has been a tower of strength to the Australian
community in California and is a leader in the San Francisco community helping with many philanthropic
causes. He has been a great help to our team and is inspiring with his ideas on collaboration and leadership in
our expatriate Australian community.

As always, Nigel Warren, the Australian Consul General, gave a fine speech for the occasion. Congratulations and thanks too to Dawn Lillington, the Director of the Chamber for another successful event. There were many interesting Australian expats at the event including the author Sally James, business folk Andy McKeon of Apple, Gower and Robyn Smith, Larry Marshall and many many others. Chevron's team was there in strength.

The Australia Day Ball was held in Thomas's San Francisco Fairmont. The Fairmont is a great historic hotel having been the scene for many international negotiations including the United Nations Charter. It has a place in the local heart similar to that of the Windsor in Melbourne. Every American President since Taft staying there when in San Francisco.

For Australians working in San Francisco, the Chamber is a fine organisation to meet other Australians and American friends of Australia for business and family fun. Established in 1981, the "Australian American Chamber of Commerce exists to embody, promote and advance the Uniquely Australian Way to Work and Play. This means taking a quintessentially Australian approach to both business and pleasure, allowing for seriousness and fun, success and relaxation."