The Taoiseach was joined by his partner, Ms Celia Larkin, on the first day of his official visit to Australia yesterday. They were guests of honour at a lunch hosted by the Premier of Victoria, Mr Stephen Bracks, and his wife.
They later visited the Australian-Irish Welfare Bureau at its offices in Northcote where the Taoiseach paid tribute to Mr Bob Pius McKenna, one of the founder members of the credit union in Cabra West, and currently Melbourne's Irish-Australian of the Year.
Mr Ahern and Ms Larkin attended the launch of Bord Failte's Irish travel trade manual for Australia in the Federation Hall in the evening where Mr Eddie Jordan, owner of the Formula One motor racing team which will compete in the Melbourne Grand Prix tomorrow, congratulated the Taoiseach for building peace in Ireland.
They were guests of honour at a ball hosted by the Australia Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry last night.