Posts by Neena Bhandari

David Roche Foundation House Museum opens on June 3

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By Neena Bhandari

Fermoy House, the residence of art aficionado, David Roche will open its doors to visitors this June to enjoy, marvel and learn from the over 3000 artefacts the owner collected from around the world and Australia.

The David Roche Foundation House Museum, which includes Fermoy House and a new adjoining neoclassical building, will display his entire collection spanning from 1690 to 1960s.

`Living well is the best revenge’ was Roche’s refrain. He amassed a vast reservoir of furniture, porcelain, metalware, ceramics, clocks, paintings and textiles from renowned creators and many with a connection to royalty or aristocracy such as France’s Napoleon Bonaparte and Russia’s Catherine the Great.

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Mining nod for Adani’s Australia project stirs debate

0 Comments read Business and Trade, Environment & Development

By Neena Bhandari

Sydney, 18.04.2016 (India Climate Dialogue): As coal prices slump and demand dips — and notwithstanding the continuing legal challenges by environmental and indigenous groups — the Queensland government has approved three mining leases for Adani Mining Pty Ltd’s (AMPL) Carmichael coal mine, rail and port project. Touted as Australia’s largest coal mine, the AUD 16.5 billion (USD 12.5 billion) project has been labelled “commercially unviable”. There are fears that it could also impact local communities as well as the Great Barrier Reef.

The three mines for which leases were granted on April 3, 2016 contain an estimated 11 billion tonnes of coal that can be used for power plants. AMPL, a subsidiary of India-based Adani Enterprises Ltd, has announced that it hopes to begin construction next year and focus “on the conclusion of second tier approvals and resolution of legal challenges”.

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Ngeringa (Ukaria) Cultural Centre – a symphony in nature

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By Neena Bhandari

Waking up on a clear October day in the Adelaide Hills draped in green gums, Ulrike Klein thought if this is her new home it would be wonderful.

It was 1983 and she has never felt any different. A philanthropist and connoisseur of music, Klein says, “Lifestyle is about culture, good local food and wine and to have that combination with four distinct seasons, clean beaches, blue skies, no traffic jams and festivals galore is what makes South Australia so special for me”.

She confesses that despite being very German at heart, she has never felt homesick. But she did find Australia to be very sports focused unlike Europe, where art and culture are an integral part of the society. As a parent of four young kids, she wanted to create a balance.

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