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Original Piece of the Berlin Wall Travels from Blacktown to Woollahra For Commemoration

Announcement posted by Goethe-Institut Australia 01 Nov 2019

PRESS RELEASE - 29 October 2019

An authentic piece of the Berlin Wall hiding away in a storehouse in Blacktown, Sydney for over a decade, is to be transported to the German Cultural Centre, the Goethe-Institut in Woollahra, for permanent public display. 

 

This rare piece of history is not small. Almost 4 metres tall, made from concrete and weighing 2.4 tonnes, the wall is well-preserved, still displaying original graffiti with the words: ‘Jeder hat Kraft’ - ‘Everyone is powerful’.

 

The official inauguration of the display on 23rd November 2019 will commemorate the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, one of the most notable events of the 20th century.

 

The piece of the wall has been donated by the current owner and will be installed and displayed at Euroka Reserve, a small public garden in front of the Institut with the support of international freight company Henning Harders.

 

Organised by the Goethe-Institut and Woollahra Council, the public celebration will include a welcome by the Mayor of Woollahra, Councillor Susan Wynne, the German Consul General Peter Silberberg and the Goethe-Institut Director Sonja Griegoschewski.


Guests will have the opportunity to see the poster exhibition “The Power of Emotions” and listen to a panel of witnesses who will share their personal memories of the historic event in 1989.


Goethe Institut Director Sonja Griegoschewski shares her excitement about the event: “For almost 50 years the Goethe-Institut in Woollahra has been a cornerstone of German-Australian cultural relations. As a born Berliner, I am deeply touched by the opportunity to share such an important piece of German history with the Australian public.”


“What once symbolised division is now a symbol of what brings us together. Having a piece of the Berlin Wall installed in Woollahra on the 30th anniversary of such an iconic event is an important reminder to us not to take for granted the peace and freedom we enjoy,” Woollahra Mayor Susan Wynne comments. “It is well placed at the Goethe-Institut, which is dedicated to fostering international cultural cooperation.”

 

“The fall of the Berlin Wall marked the beginning of a new era of freedom, not only for East Germans, but also for many other people in Central and Eastern Europe” says the German Consul General, Peter Silberberg. “It was the beginning of the processes which led to the unification of the then two German states less than a year later and paved the way to overcome the trenches that had divided Europe into East and West for more than 40 years.”

 

Event date: 23 November 2019

Time: 3pm to 6pm

Address: Goethe-Institut, 90 Ocean Street, Woollahra 2025 NSW


Contact:

Sonja Griegoschewski

Director Australia

Goethe-Institut

sonja.griegoschewski@goethe.de

Phone: 02 8356 8333

 

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About the Goethe-Institut

The Goethe-Institut is the cultural liaison between Germany and Australia. We are a not for profit, independent cultural organisation with a global reach. Our mandate is to promote the study of the German language abroad, and to encourage and facilitate international cultural exchange. The Goethe-Institut has 158 branches in 98 countries. Our branch in Melbourne was founded in 1972, followed by the Sydney branch in 1974. We work with partners and networks across Australia.