ஆஸ்திரேலிய வெளியுறவு சேவையில் தனது வாழ்க்கையை இந்தியா, இலங்கை உட்பட ஒன்பது நாடுகளில் பணியாற்றிய Howard Debenham தனது வாழ்வைப்பற்றியும், வெளிவிவகார சேவையில் தன் அநுபவம் பற்றியும் Waiting ’round the bend என்ற தலைப்பில் நூலாக வெளியிட்டிருக்கிறார்.
அவரது நினைவுக்குறிப்புகள், ஆஸ்திரேலியாவின் வெளியுறவு சேவை பற்றிய அவர் பார்வை, வழமைக்கு மாறாக, புத்துணர்ச்சி தருவதாக அமைகிறது. அவருடன், எமது நிகழ்ச்சித் தயாரிப்பாளர், குலசேகரம் சஞ்சயன் சந்தித்து உரையாடுகிறார்.
இந்த நேர்காணலில் ஒலிக்கும் என்ற பாடலைப் பாடியிருந்தவர், Jerry Butler.
Howard Debenham was raised in Queanbeyan and Canberra. Joining the still fledgling Department of External Affairs in 1961, his career in Australias Foreign Service took him through eleven overseas postings in nine countries – India twice, South Korea, Japan twice, Israel, Italy, Yugoslavia, Thailand, Sri Lanka and the USA.
He became a member of the Senior Executive of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Consul-General in Bangkok and Tokyo, Minister/Counsellor and Consul-General in Washington DC, and High Commissioner to Sri Lanka.
From a rich enough bush heritage and a sometimes testing childhood in hometown Australia, the river of his working life rounded many bends and delivered experiences which ranged widely from dangerous and ugly to exhilarating, humbling and humorous.
His recollections provide a candid, refreshing and at times irreverent insight into life in Australias Foreign Service.
Howard Debenham talks to our presenter Kulasegaram Sanchayan about his book, “Waiting ’round the Bend” and his life journey.
The lyrics of the song “Moon River” featured in this interview was written by Johnny Mercer and singer Jerry Butler’s hit single from late 1961 (it reached number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in December, two weeks before Mancini’s recording reached the same spot.) Henry Mancini’s composition received an Academy Award for Best Original Song for its first performance by Audrey Hepburn in the 1961 movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and won Mancini the 1962 Grammy Award for Record of the Year and Mercer the Grammy Award for Song of the Year. Since its original performance, the song has been covered by many other artists including Andy Williams who made it his theme song.