His Holiness the Dalai Lama arrives in Melbourne for 11-day Australia tourThursday, 9 June 2011, 3:03 p.m.]

His Holiness the Dalai Lama is greeted by well wishers on his arrival in Melbourne, Australia, on 8 June 2011. Photo/Tibet Information Office

MELBOURNE:
His Holiness the Dalai Lama arrived in Melbourne this morning from New
Zealand to start his 11-day tour to Australia. He was accompanied by Mr
Sonam Dagpo, Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in
Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia. Lynn Bain, General Manager
of Dalai Lama in Australia Ltd (DLiA), was at the airport to welcome
him on his 8th visit to Australia.A representative from the
Indian consulate in Melbourne, members of the local Tibetan community
and a group of Australian supporters were also at the airport.His
Holiness travelled to the hotel in the centre of the city, where he was
met by members of the DLiA board. A group of young Tibetans greeted him
with a Tashi Shoepa dance on his arrival.His Holiness had a
series of one-on-one media interviews in the afternoon with some of the
leading media organisations in the country, including the Sydney
Morning Herald, Channel 9 and Channel 10. His Holiness also addressed a
media conference, attended by around 80 journalists. He discussed a
wide range of issues from the evolution of Tibetan democracy to his
commitment to promoting human values and universal responsibility, and
from the changing socio-political trends in China to the role of media
in society. In a truly Australian fashion, famous footy (Australian
football) player Harry O’Brien presented His Holiness with a football
and his team jumper at the media conference.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama is presented with an Australian Rules football by Harry O’brien inMelbourne, Australia, on 8 June 2011. Photo/Tibet Information Office

The
visit to Australia and New Zealand becomes His Holiness’ first overseas
trip after the formal devolution of his political power.His
Holiness will begin his programmes tomorrow with a wide range of events
including inauguration of a Vietnamese Buddhist temple, a youth rally
and a forum on refugees. The federal MP for Melbourne city will host a
reception in his honour in the afternoon.–Report filed by
Tsering Kyinzom Dhongdue, Research & Government Relations Manager,
Australia Tibet Council (On assignment by Tibet Information Office,
Australia, and Dalai Lama in Australia Ltd)