On Wednesday, June 4, we were very pleased and honoured to receive as our guest Mr Bob Carr, the former Premier of New South Wales.

Mr Carr, the longest serving premier and one of the most respected leaders of all times in this country, has had a long and very meaningful relationship with Lycée Condorcet, and it was a delight to see him back at school. Mr Carr spoke to the audience, consisting of the students of Years 9-11, parents, teachers and representatives of the French community in Sydney, about his latest book entitled“My Reading Life”. Seeing as he had to make choices from the vast treasure of literature he describes in his books, he focused on French writers, offering very insightful comments on French writers, architects, history, artists and much more. In fact, Mr Carr revealed himself to be a strong francophile, describing, for example Paris as the world’s most beautiful city in terms of its architectural heritage. One of then best holidays he ever had, said Mr Carr, was travelling along the Loire valley from château to château, having just read the biography of Catherine de Medici, thus being able to in a sense relive the events described in the book. Indeed, reading, according to Mr Carr, is the one absolutely indispensible activity in life, as it alone broadens and develops the mind.

This was the latest in a series of presentations by eminent peo- ple at Condorcet for this school year. We welcomed writers, historians, politicians, actors and philosophers at school, all of whom provided us with fascinating insights.

Bernd Fichtner
Director of studies

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