The voice- Of Year 2 No 16 December 2001

Science Prize Reward Media Seminar Australian Excellence For achievement in the Slovenia life science, September 2001 MINISTER’S PRIZE dr. Boštjan Kobe The Science Prizes are a national tribute to excellent and dedicated Mitja Meršol - Editor /Delo/, work and are part of the Govern- ment’s ongoing commitment to sup- Stanka Gregorič and porting and promoting the impor- Dragica Bošnjak tant contribution made to our daily lives by Australian innovations in science and technology. The Prime Minister and Minister Foto: Florjan Auser for Industry, Science and Resources presented the 2001 Science Prizes to the winners during a gala dinner in the Great Hall of Parliament With dr. Dimitrij Rupel, Minister for Foreign Affairs House on 25 September 2001. Australia’s premier science award, the $300,000 Prime Minister’s Prize for Science, was won this year by Emeritus Professor Donald Metcalf of The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, for his life-saving white blood cell research. The Science Prizes also celebrate the efforts of Australia’s young sci- entists who are 35 years of age or younger. Elica Rizmal at RAI The $35,000 Malcom McIntosh television in Trieste dr. Zvone Žigon and At the University Library in Prize for Achievement in the Physi- Magdalena Tovornik cal Sciences was awarded to Dr Pe- Dear Stanka, ter Bartlett who, while researching at the Australian National Univer- Adrian Vatovec and sity in Canberra, made significant Vlado Kreslin I have pleasure enclosing a preview CD of Vlado Kreslin advances in discovering how a com- performing one of my compositions called Play with puter can do what so many living Play with Fire Fire. The recording took place in Adelaide last year creatures can do: learn. when Vlado was here with his band as the headline act The $35,000 Minister’s Prize for for the Victor Harbor Folk Festival, an event that at- Achievement in Life Sciences was tracts some 10,000 people. awarded to Associate Professor Play with Fire has a rhythm and blues feel about it with Bostjan Kobe of the University of added central European texture as only Vlado and his Queensland, for his invaluable re- search in exploring the shape of ba- musicians can uniquely muster. As author Richard sic building blocks-proteins. Flanagan says about Kreslin’s stature in the musical world - ‘ … a musician of such standing that everyone who 2001 Winners: comes to central Europe – from Dylan to REM – plays with him …’ The Age, Melbourne, December 30, 2000. - 2001 PRIME MINISTER’S PRIZE FOR SCIENCE It was certainly a pleasure to work with Vlado in the Emeritus Professor Donald Metcalf, studio. Thanks must go to Helena Drnovšek Zorko from AC FAA FRC the Slovenian Embassy in Canberra for arranging the introduction with Vlado. - 2001 MALCOLM MCINTOSH The preview CD of Play with Fire has been sent to some PRIZE radio stations in Australia and American university/col- FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN THE lege radio stations. The song is being well received. PHYSICAL SCIENCES Other versions of the song are in the pipeline for later Professor Peter Bartlett release. Yours sincerely, - 2001MINISTER’S PRIZE Adrian Vatovec FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN THE Adelaide, October 23, 2001 LIFE SCIENCES Associate Professor Bostjan Kobe 2

December 2001

TH ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR 27 Annual Slovenian Concert DR. BOŠTJAN KOBE FUSION 2001 By Lenti Lenko

The 2001 Minister’s Prize for ‘This is like a big microscope where The 27th annual Slovenian concert accordion maestros, Peter Grivic, Achievement in Life Sciences is we look in the finest detail at how was held this year on the 6th of Rudi Crnčec and Frank Petelin. It awarded to Associate Professor things fit and from there we begin October at the Slovenian Reli- was pleasing to see so much Bostjan Kobe, of the University of to understand how they work to- young talent on the stage particu- Queensland, for his groundbreaking gious and Cultural Centre in gether,’ he says. ‘It’s complicated larly from our 2nd and 3rd genera- work which is helping to piece to- because so many different proteins Merrylands NSW. Once again, gether the jigsaw of how our cells Slovenians from different parts of tion Slovenian youth. Of course work together-we have decades of st work. research ahead of us before we will Australia got together to show off our 1 generation folk also showed see the full, integrated picture. For their talents and abilities no mat- us what they are capable of! All The 35-year-old Associate Profe- example, we know that the whole ter what their age as these concerts in all, no matter what our abilities ssor is doing so by exploring the human genome has thousands of are now also open to people of all we all gathered together to once shape of basic building blocks-pro- proteins, but the real challenge we teins. There is enormous potential ages and not just the youth. again show our community that face is that we only actually know whether born in Slovenia or Aus- for this work. Associate Professor how a fraction of them work.’ Kobe’s research will be invaluable Associate Professor Kobe is in- There were 33 different acts rang- tralia, we are proud of our for developing highly-targeted ing from poetry recitals, solo and Slovenian heritage, culture, mu- drugs that can manipulate what a spired by the work of others in the same field, including Australian choral singing and folklore danc- sic and language. protein does and, as a result, suc- ing to various bands, solo instru- cessfully fight off deadly viruses scientists in Melbourne who deve- like HIV. loped the flu drug, Relenza. mental performances and dance The next morning a special youth Piecing together the jigsaw by sol- ‘It is an exciting area to be involved items. As always our proud mass was celebrated at St. ving the three-dimensional struc- in. We’re looking at three-dimen- Slovenian youth showed us their Rapheals church in Merrylands ture of proteins is detailed and time- sional shapes of molecules that no abilities to the fullest. There are with our very own Pater Ciril one has seen before-we’re the first consuming, but important work. so many talented names I would Bozic (whom we are very fortu- Proteins perform many important scientists to see them in such in- credible detail. Of course, you have love to mention however space nate to have with us again in Aus- functions in every cell in every or- unfortunately does not permit this! ganism. The way protein molecules to go through a lot of work to make tralia!) giving an inspirational interact with one another controls a discovery, but not knowing exactly One name I will mention however homily to everybody present. Af- the way all living things grow and what you will find tomorrow excites is our young 6 year old Mathew ter mass, we gathered in the hall reproduce. ‘Each type of molecule me’, he says. Bratina from Melbourne who put for a BBQ lunch and then it was has a complex three-dimensional Associate Professor Kobe already on a fantastic show both at the time to depart for the long trip shape which influences how they has an outstanding publication concert and the next mor-ning in back to Melbourne. behave. If we can learn exactly how record for a young researcher, with church and stole everyone’s hearts they are shaped, we will be able to papers in the top scientific journals in the process! use this information to work out of the field. For example, the pres- The theme for this years concert ways of regulating how they func- tigious international journal Nature for ‘FUSION’. And this concert, tion’, explains Associate Professor published an article on his work in A group of dedicated people got (like all other past concerts) really Kobe. December 1999. together a number of months in showed this to the fullest - a FU- Each protein has pockets and Associate Professor Kobe’s passion advance to organise this very ma- SION of Slovenia and Australia, grooves that determine how it fits, jor annual event in the Slovenian for scientific discovery began as a a FUSION of the old and the new binds and reacts with other proteins young child in Slovenia. After community calender. It is impor- and a of course a FUSION of dif- and molecules within a cell. studying chemistry there, he wor- tant to note that the majority of the ‘Once we have determined the ferent people who lead very dif- ked in the United States where he organisers were not born in structure, we can use it as a tem- obtained his PhD. He was more re- fering and varying lifestyles in plate to help us design drugs that Slovenia but are proud of their may manipulate how a protein func- cently at St. Vincent’s Institute of different part of this God blessed Medical Research in Melbourne, Slovenian heritage and want to do tions. This information will help us something positive for the Slo- country of Australia who came fight the viruses that attack our before last year moving to the Uni- together from near and far to keep versity of Queensland’s Department venian community in Australia cells, like HIV. By understanding and that is why they got involved. the Slovenian spirit and tradition the shapes of the molecules that of Biochemistry and Molecular Bio- alive and kicking! enable a virus to function, we can logy and Institute for Molecular They must all be contratulated- design chemicals that will find and Bioscience. from the sound, lighting and back- bind onto the right pockets or ‘I will continue to work in this field. stage crew through to the program As a Melbournian I would sin- grooves to interfere with and stop I am happy at the University of designers. Here I must mention cerely like to thank all the the virus’, he says. Queensland. The environment is the 2 lovely ladies who did such Sydneysiders for their extreme Through his work, Associate Pro- dynamic-I believe that Brisbane is kindness and hospitality during on its way to becoming a major cen- an excellent job of comparing the fessor Kobe has made major re- evening in both Slovenian and our stay with you in Sydney. In search contributions in protein tre for science.’ particular with thank Pater structural biology. He is helping us Of the Minister’s award, Associate English - Michelle and Julie understand the nature and regula- Professor Kobe says: ‘It’s the bi- Brcar. Valerijan Jenko for his deep sin- tion of protein interactions, and the ggest recognition I have had so far Once again all of us who live in cerity and kindness! control of cellular processes. and it means a lot. To be selected different parts of this great land Associate Professor Kobe is taking out of a crowd of so many very good were able to get together and catch Next years concert will be held in on this challenge through a process scientists is a great honour. Science Melbourne and we already look is a rewarding profession in many up with old friends from different called protein crystallography: ‘We forward to playing kind hosts to need crystals because when we put ways, but in other ways it can be states we had not seen in a while them in an X-ray beam, we get tough, so it’s important for the pro- (or only chatted to via email!). all of you from all around Aus- something called a diffraction pat- fession to be recognised like this. After the concert the band Domači tralia who will visit us in Mel- tern. From this we can calculate the It also helps the general community Fantje put on a bit of a show even bourne in 2002. structure and get a three-dimen- understand the contribution science though it was already late in the sional shape of the protein.’ makes. I believe the community is evening. Here I must say that it Once again: By introducing new ways of cry- embracing and showing interest in stallising proteins, Associate Profe- science more and more, but awards was an honour to be able to have ssor Kobe’s innovative work is like this make science more public played my new button accordion ‘ISKRENE CESTITKE!’ to all of stretching the boundaries of X-ray and help everyone better under- recently bought from Slovenia those who helped in any way to crystallography. stand the benefits.’ with Australia’s three top button make FUSION a success! 3

December 2001

Lenti, attended Radio Ognjišče, where Franci Testernjak, the main We wish to thank Urad Vlade program director showed the group za informiranje and Urad za Media Seminar around the station and described Slovence v zamejstvu in po Slovenia, September 2001 how they produce their programs svetu for organizing this out- By Evelyn Kojc and Lenti lenko and the type of audience they cater standing seminar and for their for. Radio Ognjišče is not a govern- fantastic hospitality during ment owned radio station but has the whole week. Their kind- Our names are Evelyn Kojc and That afternoon, we visited the main much support in Slovenia and is ness will never be forgotten Lenti Lenko and we both live in headquarters for the newspaper broadcast all over the world via the and we have returned with Melbourne, Australia. We are in- Delo. Here we were introduced to Internet. This radio station has of- positive outlook towards our volved in Slovenian youth radio Managing Director Mitja Meršol, ten struggled to remain on air but work within the Slovenian once a month on 3zzz in Melbourne Vlado Schlamberger and a well- with the support of the general community in Australia. – and occasionally also on SBS radio. known journalist, Dragica Boš- Slovenian public, it has remained Evelyn and Lenti We were both fortunate enough to njak. We were also given an incite alive. Because the content of the be chosen to visit Slovenia and at- to Delofax (A shorter version of the programs wholeheartedly support tend a conference for Slovenian newspaper), which will allow us to Slovenian Ideals, in particular, pro- journalists from around the world extract archived articles from the moting different types of Slovenian which was organised and sponsored newspaper over the Internet. That music new and old they have be- by the Ministry for Information of evening, ‘naša mladina(!)’, myself, come a very popular station. We the Republic of Slovenia and the Lenti and Tania Smrdel, headed to were also interviewed about the Ministry for Slovenians living Ljublanski Trg where a concert was seminar, which was to be broadcast abroad. held featuring many well known lo- on one of the weekend programs, cal bands. It was attended by thou- and later discovered that Delo fea- A letter was sent to all the organi- sands of young Slovenians (and tured an article about the seminar in that day’s paper. That evening we zations within Australia inviting three Australian Born Sloveni- Evelyn Kojc and Tania Smrdel those involved in the Slovenian ans!!!), which ended in a very en- met at a resturant in Ljubljana for Foto: F.A. media to apply for the seminar. We tertaining evening. dinner and was the first official were required to send a resume to gather the Slovenian Embassy in Canberra On Tuesday morning we visited with the other candidates after where it was then forwarded to the Radio Slovenia. This, we must add, knowing each other for a couple of relevant authorities in Slovenia who was the most informative and valu- days. We all had similar stories to then choose the candidates for the able sessions within the conference. tell of the Slovenian communities seminar. Eight people were chosen Its relevance related to the type of living in each of the countries we from Australia - Evelyn Kojc, Lenti work we are involved in here in came from. Lenko, Elica Rizmal, Tania Smr- Melbourne.The guest speakers spoke del, Rosemary Poklar, Stanka of their different radio stations, Wednesday was a very hectic day. Gregoric, Florjan Auser and Meta which, we found to be very different This was the day where we visited Lenarcic. We were amongst twenty- a number of Slovenian government to the system we have here in Aus- institutions including STA (Slo- four people chosen from countries tralia. In Australia a company or or- venska tiskovna agencija) or the where Slovenian migrants live, ganization owns one radio station Slovenian Press Agency, the Mi- Germany, Sweden, Canada, USA, which has one frequency, whereas nistry for Information, the Foreign Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenian radio stations own many Ministry, the “Urad” for Slo- Argentina, Switzerland and of frequencies that belong to the one venians living abroad and the Lenti Lenko Foto: F.A. course Australia. station. Radio Slovenia has one fre- Slovenian Defence Ministry. We quarters of the newspaper Pri- quency that covers the news, the also spent time inside the Slo- morske Novice where we were Our seminar began on Monday 3 second a current affairs and the rest venian Parliament where we given a run down on its operation September 2001 and concluded on cater in areas including music, cul- gained much valuable information and the impact of its paper around Saturday 8th September 2001. On ture and entertainment. A guest about the running of the country and the Primorska region of Slovenia. the Sunday evening we arrived at speaker represented each of the how they have been coping since Next we visited Radio/Televizija our hotel and gathered for an intro- separate programs and they each Slovenia became an independent where again, was entered ductory dinner which brought to- spoke about their audiences and country in 1991. That afternoon we much discussion into the work they gether all of the candidates. In ad- their preparations towards their pro- were given an informative lecture are involved with and the work we dition, we were informed of the grams. One speaker spoke of the about Slovenia’s bid to join the Eu- do within our own communities. We coming events for that week and the correct (and incorrect!) use of ropean Union and much discussion then visited the main cathedral in opportunity to meet the 2 seminar Slovenian pronunciation and gram- regarding Slovenia’s possible future Koper, which we must say was one leaders, Tatjana Lesjak and Dr. mar. We in turn began a very pas- membership into this international of the most beautiful churches in Zvone Žigon. We were all from sionate discussion of our under- organization was addressed. The Slovenia. Bishop Metod Pirih who different countries but it was im- standing of the Slovenian Grammar. Slovenian government conveyed has also visited us in Australia mediately apparent how we each This was of much interest to those confident remarks to their amalga- works as the main bishop in the had the same story to tell. involved in all facts of media how mation in the EU as well as NATO. Primorska region. He gave us an in- little or great their Slovenian vo- However, whether the majority of teresting speech about the history The first morning began with a for- cabulary was. That afternoon we Slovenian citizens support this of the cathedral. The organizers of mal introduction from Tatjana were divided into two groups with move remains to be seen. We met the seminar kindly enough organ- Lesjak and Dr. Alja Brglez who is one heading for Radio Ognjišče with a number of important ized a boat trip on the Adriatic the director of the Ministry for In- and the other to RTV Slovenia. I, Slovenian political figures includ- Sea, which took us from Koper formation. Each of us then had the Evelyn went to RTV Slovenia and ing the State Secretary for down to the Croatian border. It was opportunity to introduce ourselves as a group we spent the first two Slovenes Abroad, the Minister for a fantastic and relaxing trip. We and briefly outline the work we are hours with the director of RTV Foreign Affairs dr. Dimitrij Rupel were given a delicious lunch which involved with, within our respec- Slovenia and his colleagues. Our and the Slovenian Defence Minis- was particularly enjoyed by Lenti!!!! tive Slovenian Communities and discussions rotated around our in- ter dr. Anton Grizold. Overall, we Upon ariving in Piran we settled our hopes of achievement at the volvements within our Slovenian were given the distinct impression into our hotel. We then walked up conclusion of the conference. Here- communities and how we foresee that Slovenia’s recent transition to the hill to the local church where after we were addressed by four the future of this work. We made democracy and independence has again we learnt about the history of speakers - Janja Bozic Marolt, many contacts and also gained much continued to move forward in a very its origin. Next, we visited yet an- Grega Repovž - President of the needed information for improving positive light! other church in town where we journalists working inside Slovenia our television programs on Chan- viewed an amazing slides show high- and Tomaž Perovič - director of the nel 31 in both Sydney and Mel- Thursday morning, Evelyn decided lighting the history of the Piran re- Informative program POP TV in bourne. We were then given a tour to have a bit of a sleep in right on gion. After this, we were invited for Slovenia. These people spoke of of the station and were exposed to the day we were told not to be late a beautiful outdoor dinner where we their work within their organiza- the equipment they utilize for the on the bus as we were taking the long ate, drank and danced the night tions and the public’s attitude to- production and modifications of (for Slovenians!) 1.5 hour journey to away. Yes the weather was abso- wards their work. their programs. Primorska. We arrived at the head lutely perfect that night! /Cont./ 4

December 2001

On Friday morning we headed into Ljubljana – The greatest military (Trst) where we visited the Bucharest/Ljubljana, 14 Novem- threat nowadays is terrorism, and it headquarters for the newspaper ber – In what is perhaps Slo- NEWS venia’s greatest sporting suc- is clear that NATO members are Primorski dnevnik. We got the op- most exposed to it, therefore portunity to meet the director Bojan STA cess ever, its national football team qualified for the 2002 World Slovenia’s accession to NATO Brezigar, well known Slovenian would be a strategic mistake, Luka personality in Italy Sergej Pahor Cup in Japan and South Korea. The Slovene team managed to Juri, President of the Young Forum and Slovenian Ambassador for Ljubljana – A total of 250,000 of the parliamentary United List of Slovenia in Italy Jadranka Šturm draw the second-leg playoff Slovenes have used the Internet match against Romania 1:1 (0:0) Social Democrats (ZLSD) said. Kocjan as well as other local rep- in October, show surveys conducted Juri explained that the Young Fo- resentatives. Information address- in Bucharest, thus winning the by the Ljubljana Faculty of Social two-leg playoff 3:2 on aggregate. rum will organise a conference next ing the impact of their newspaper Sciences as part of the project on spring at which they will try to con- on the Slovenian minority in Trst the use of the Internet in Slovenia. vince the ZLSD, which is strongly in and surrounding regions was re- 450,000 Slovenes use the Internet Ljubljana – Slovene inventors re- favour of Slovenia’s NATO member- layed to us. It was very interesting at least once a month, and 660,000 ceived 16 awards at the 51st IENA ship, that NATO accession is harmful. to see that even though Trst falls Slovenes have used it at least once. invention show in Germany’s under the country of Italy, a promi- Nuerenberg. The Slovene team, put Ljubljana – Credible information nent Slovenian presence is still very Ljubljana – Peter Lazar from together by the Slovene Business points to the first case of mad cow much noticed. We then also visited Sostanj, northern Slovenia, is the Inventions Network (SPIM), took disease in Slovenia, said Agriculture the local Slovenian radio and tel- first contestant ever to answer all part in this show for the ninth time Minister Franci But and the head of evision station RAI, where we re- 15 questions of the Slovene TV this year, winning two gold, eight quiz, a version of world-famous the Slovene Veterinary Administra- ceived a tour through the premises. silver and five bronze medal, as tion, Zoran Kovac. According to We were then very fortunate to be Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, well as a special award. and win SIT ten million (EUR three repetitions of a quick analysis, taken to a beautiful restaurant in Aljosa Pajk won gold for his solar a five-year old cow from a farm in Repentabor for one of the most de- 45,500). The show, hosted by fa- mous Slovene TV presenter Jonas. roof tile, while Stane Ocepek of the the Upper Savinja Valley, northern licious lunches we have ever had! furniture manufacturer SVEA Slovenia, has been infected with We then all walked off the The final, 15th question of the quiz, was the following: “The main cha- Zagorje received the gold medal for BSE. marvelous meal up the hill to ob- racter in Dostoyevsky’s novel The inventing a special fireproof ele- serve the gorgeous scenery. Later Idiot, Prince Myshkin, suffered ment for the kitchen extractor hood. Trieste – Vatican authorities have were taken to see a well known from the same disease as the au- The special award was conferred to given a green light to start a process landmark called the Kraska Hisa thor. Which disease was it?” Viktor Bitenc for his fireplace fur- for eventual beatification of Slovene which was a house made from the Among four options, Lazar, with the nace. The traditional IENA show, priest and public worker Jakob Kras stone very prominent through- help of a phone call, correctly chose which was underway from 1 to 4 Ukmar, a member of the Slovene out this region. Hereafter, it was “epilepsy” and became Slovenia’s November, was organised by the community in Trieste, NE Italy. time to take the long (1.5 hour!) first “millionaire”. company AFAG from Nuerenberg. journey back to Ljubljana but only Ljubljana – Slovenia saw a labour after we got the opportunity to stop Maribor – The winner of this Ljubljana – Almost 74 percent of force of 886,047 people in Septem- at the local duty free shop just over year’s “Večernica” award, granted Slovenes belive that the govern- ber, 786,213 of which were persons the border to get some good bar- by the Maribor-based daily Vecer ment should ensure that the two in paid employment, up 0.5 percent gains! for the author of the best youth state-owned banks - NLB and from August and 1.7 percent more novel in 2000, is Feri Lainšček and NKBM - remain in Slovene own- than in September 2000, the Na- Saturday marked the last day of our his book “Mislice”, published by ership fo-llowing the completion of tional Statistical Office said. Re- seminar. We gathered in the hotel the Franc-Franc publishing house. privatisation. More than 92 percent gistered unemployment was at 11.3 with our two group leaders and of the 706 polled persons also indi- New York – Slovene President percent, up 0.2 percent over the pre- were fortunate enough to have cated that they expect the govern- vious month. A total of 99,834 per- amongst us Magdalena Tovornik Milan Kučan addressed the 56th ment to give preference to a domes- General Assembly of the UN in sons were registered as unemployed - State Secretary for Slovenes tic buyer over a foreign one. Abroad. New York, condemning the terro- in September, which is up 1.7 per- rist attack on the U.S. and express- cent over August and down 2.3 per- As a group we had a general dis- Ljubljana – Judging by the number cussion regarding our achievements ing a need for co-operation in cre- cent over September 2000. ating a world of peace, liberty, soli- of quality certified organisations, during the seminar and then fin- Slovenia is above the European ished the week with yet another darity, security and less violence. Willemstad – The Slovene chain of ave-rage, somewhere at the level casinos HIT from Nova Gorica delicious lunch which everyone of France and Germany, Jozko Cuk, very much enjoyed particularly, yet Ljubljana – After 11 September, opened its first casino abroad on the we writers have to fight once again President of the Slovene Asso- Caribbean island of Bonaire in the again, Lenti! It was nice to see such ciation for Quality, said in Portoroz a community spirit pervading for the freedom of expression and Netherlands Antilles. Casino Caribe pluralism of opinions, Veno Taufer, at the outset of a conference on qua- is part of Plaza Resort, the largest amongst all of us and in addition, president of PEN Slovenia won- lity, which he said was an opportu- have made a number of contacts and tourist complex on the island with dered at a forum organised to mark nity for some 400 participants to get over 200 accommodation units on a friends whom we will stay in touch 75 years since Slovenia became to know all aspects of quality. with for a long time. Our two main five-star level. Plaza Resort is member of PEN, the international owned and run by the Van der Valk seminar leaders, Tatjana Lesjak fellowship that unites poets, play- and Dr. Zvone Zigon did an abso- Piran – The Slovene coastal town family that holds around 80 hotels wrights, editors, essayists and no- of Piran will be the set for the lute superfluous job during the velists. in the Netherlands and around the whole week. Both of us can honestly Greek-French-Slovene co-pro- world. duced feature film “Lilly’s say that all the organizers put a Trieste –The Italian national sta- 200% effort into ensuring that Story”. The film is set in the mid- tistics institute ISTAT has finally 70s when Greeks fled from their Ljubljana – Slovenes Make up for the seminar was a huge success! put into print the census forms in Almost Half of Europe’s Drunk We have been able to come back country that was under dictatorial the Slovene language, so that the rule. Piran was the place where they Drivers. Slovenia has taken part in home and share information with Slovene minority living in Italy is an action of the European network the Slovenian community here re- to receive them in the coming days. met every summer, as it reminded them of Greece due to the sea, the of traffic police (TISPOL) that re- garding how Slovenia is fairing in The move comes after the minority sulted in confiscation of 355 driv- the world. Of course, we also protested against receiving forms sun and the joyful colours. In that time, Piran was homeland for them. ing licenses because of intoxication gained valuable insight into how we for this year’s census in the Italian all over Europe in the recent days. language only. Unlike the previous can improve our work within our As much as 150 of these licenses, community here in Australia, be it two censuses, when ISTAT pro- Ljubljana – The new Guide to in radio, television or in print. This vided forms in Slovene, this time Slovene Orthography, a reference or 42 percent, were confiscated in seminar was a fantastic experience, Slovene text was enclosed only for book of contemporary Slovene lan- Slovenia, said the Slovene Police. which we will never forget. We can assistance. guage, hit the shelves, almost 40 years only urge others involved in This move was quickly criticised by since its last edition was published. Ljubljana – Ela Peroci, one of the Slovenian media to apply for any the Slovene minority, seeing it as a The 1,800 pages of the sixth edition the most popular Slovene authors of future seminars that may be held move which curtails the rights of contains orthography rules and a dic- children books, died at the of 79 in years to come. the Slovene minority. tionary of over 130,000 entries. Ljubljana.