A speech from the throne, or throne speech, is an event in certain monarchies in which the reigning sovereign, or their representative, reads a prepared speech to members of the nation's legislature when a session is opened, or in some cases closed. The address sets forth the government's priorities for its legislative agenda, for which the cooperation of the legislature is sought. The speech is often accompanied by formal ceremony. It is often held annually, although in some places it may occur more or less frequently, whenever a new session of the legislature is opened.

Historically, when monarchs exercised personal influence and overall decision-making in government, a speech from the throne would outline the policies and objectives of the monarch; the speech was usually prepared by the monarch's advisers, but the monarch supervised the drafting of the speech at least to some extent and exercised final discretion as to its content. In modern constitutional monarchies, whether by law or by convention, the head of state or their representative reads the speech from the throne, but it is prepared by the ministers in cabinet.

Of contemporary European monarchies today, this traditional event is held in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands (Prince's Day), and Norway. In other countries the monarch may or may not attend the opening of the country's legislature; they may also give a speech, but these speeches, in contrast, do not outline any government agenda.

Many republics have adopted a similar practice in which the head of state, often a president, addresses the legislature; in the United States, the president makes an annual State of the Union address, in the Philippines the president makes an annual State of the Nation Address. In parliamentary republics where the president is merely a ceremonial figurehead, these speeches are often similar in tone to the throne speech of a constitutional monarchy, whereas in presidential systems such as the U.S. the speeches are somewhat different in that the president exercises personal discretion over the content but the principle of separation of powers means the legislature is not obligated to follow whatever agenda (if any) may be contained in such a speech.

Commonwealth realms

Terminology
In the United Kingdom, the speech is known as His Majesty's Most Gracious Speech, the Gracious Address, or, less formally, the King's Speech (or Queen's Speech, when the reigning monarch is female). In Canada, it is known as the Speech from the Throne (often shortened to Throne Speech) (in French: Discours du Trône). Since 1973, the lieutenant governor of Quebec has delivered a short inaugural address termed the Allocution, after which the premier reads his or her Discours d'ouverture (Opening Speech), called the Message inaugural from 1974 to 1984.

In Hong Kong, the governor's address was termed the Policy Address during Chris Patten's governorship. In the Irish Free State, the governor-general delivered the Governor-General's Address to Dáil Éireann; only two were ever given, in 1922 and 1923.

History
In the Commonwealth realms, the speech from the throne is an oration that forms part of a ceremony marking the opening of parliament. Some records indicate the ceremony has taken place since the Middle Ages, while others place its origins in the 16th century, when England was still an absolute monarchy. The speech explained to parliament the reasons it was summoned and sometimes set out the sovereign's policies and objectives. The monarch would sometimes speak to parliament in person; Edward III (in 1365), Richard II, and Edward IV did so to both houses of parliament on multiple separate occasions.

However, various other figures gave the oration on the sovereign's behalf: between 1347 and 1363, it was read by the chief justice; in 1401 by the chief justice of the Common Pleas; in 1344, 1368, 1377 (speaking for a presiding Edward III), 1399, and 1422, by the archbishop of Canterbury; and in 1343, 1363, and, usually after 1368, by the lord chancellor who was then the prolocutor, or chairman of the House of Lords. It was given on his behalf by the bishop of Winchester in 1410; in 1453 and 1467, the bishop of Lincoln; the bishop of Rochester in 1472; and the keeper of the Privy Seal in 1431. It may have been written by or with the input of the king's or queen's advisers, but, the monarch, as supreme governor, was the principal author.

Modern times
Today, within the tenets of constitutional monarchy, the speech is written by the sitting cabinet, with or without the reader's participation, and outlines the legislative programme for the new parliamentary session. Due to the parliamentary tradition of the sovereign being barred from the lower chamber, in those realms possessing a bicameral parliament, the ceremony takes place in the legislature's upper chamber, with members of both houses in attendance. In unicameral parliaments, the speech is read in the one legislative chamber. Unusually, in the Irish Free State, the speech was delivered in the lower house of its bicameral parliament.

In the United Kingdom, the speech is typically read by the reigning sovereign at the State Opening of Parliament. Traditions surrounding the opening and the speech go back to the 16th century; the present ceremony dates from 1852, when the Palace of Westminster was rebuilt after the 1834 fire. The ceremony now usually occurs annually in May (prior to the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 it was usually in November or December) or soon after a general election. The monarch may, however, appoint a delegate to perform the task in his or her place. Elizabeth II did this during her pregnancies in 1959 and 1963, delivered instead by Lord Chancellor; and again due to ill health in 2022, delivered instead by Prince Charles (now Charles III).

In those countries that share with the UK the same person as their respective sovereign, the speech from the throne will usually be read on the monarch's behalf by his or her viceroy, the governor-general, although the monarch may deliver the address in person: Queen Elizabeth II read the Throne Speech in the Parliament of New Zealand in 1954, 1963, 1970, 1974, 1977, 1986, and 1990, the Parliament of Australia in 1954 and 1974, and the Parliament of Canada in 1957 and 1977. Another member of the royal family may also perform this duty, such as when, on 1 September 1919, the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII) read the Speech From the Throne in the Canadian parliament. On two occasions, the administrator of the Government delivered the address to the Parliament of Canada: 16 May 1963 and 30 September 1974.

In the Australian states, the relevant governor reads the speech, though the Australian monarch may also perform the task: Queen Elizabeth II opened the parliaments of some of the Australian states in 1954 and of New South Wales in 1992. In almost all the Canadian provinces, the relevant lieutenant governor delivers the speech; it is uncertain whether the Canadian monarch can do the same in any legislature of a Canadian province. In Quebec, however, the speech is referred to as the "Opening Address" (). In each of the Canadian territories, the commissioner reads the Throne Speech or Opening Address to the legislature.

In British overseas territories that have instituted this practice, the relevant governor delivers the speech. A throne speech is not typical in the devolved legislatures within the United Kingdom; the nearest equivalent is a statement of the legislative agenda of the executive branch, usually given by a first minister. However, the British monarch often undertakes visits and speaks to the devolved bodies in a less official capacity. During her reign Queen Elizabeth II was present and gave an address at all openings of the Scottish parliament, usually speaking reflectively upon its accomplishments and wishing the institution well for its coming term rather than considering the plans of the executive.

It is considered improper for the audience, including members of parliament, to show support or disapproval for any content of the speech while it is being read: that is reserved to the debate and vote that follows in legislative chambers or chamber. Protest, though, has been expressed during a throne speech, such as when, in 2011, Brigette DePape, a page in the Canadian Senate, interrupted Governor General David Johnston's reading of the Speech From the Throne by standing and holding a sign calling for the then Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, to be stopped.

Address in reply
Formally, the motion that follows the speech merely calls on parliament to thank the monarch or viceroy via an Address in Reply. The debate is, however, often wide-ranging, exploring many aspects of the government's proposed policies, and spread over several days. When the Address in Reply is eventually voted on, the poll is held to constitute a motion of confidence in the government, which, if lost, would result in the end of that government's mandate. In some legislatures, this discussion and vote is preceded by a symbolic raising of other matters, designed to highlight the independence of parliament from the Crown; a practice that originated after King Charles I was tried and executed by parliament. In the British House of Commons, the other business raised is by tradition the Outlawries Bill, while the House of Lords reads the Select Vestries Bill; neither proceeds past the first reading. In the House of Commons of Canada, the bill considered is Bill C-1, an Act Respecting the Administration of Oaths of Office, while in the Senate, it is Bill S-1, an Act Relating to Railways. The texts of these two bills have nothing to do with either oaths of office or railways; instead, they contain near-identical wordings that explain their pro forma function. In Australia and New Zealand, by contrast, no pro forma bills are introduced; there, the respective houses of representatives instead consider some brief and non-controversial business items before debating the Address in Reply.

Other countries

Japan

In Japan, the emperor makes only a short speech of greeting during the National Diet opening ceremony; he does not refer to any government policies, instead allowing the Prime Minister to address political matters, as in the contemporary cases in Sweden and Denmark.

Malaysia
Malaysia also has the same practice, with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong making such an address to the Parliament of Malaysia in joint session during its state opening yearly every March.

Netherlands

In the Netherlands, the speech from the throne is held annually on the third Tuesday in September, which is called Prinsjesdag (Prince's Day). Article 65 of the constitution states that "A statement of the policy to be pursued by the Government is given by or on behalf of the King before a joint session of the two Houses of the States General that is held every year on the third Tuesday in September or on such earlier date as may be prescribed by Act of Parliament."

The monarch travels from Noordeinde Palace by Golden Coach to the Ridderzaal (Hall of Knights) in the Binnenhof of The Hague to read the speech before a joint session of the States General. Following the speech, the president of the joint session calls out 'Long live the King!' after which the monarch is greeted with three cheers. The monarch and his retinue leave and the joint session is declared to be closed. The monarch returns to the palace in the coach and, along with other members of the royal house, appears on the palace balcony. Following the 1983 revision of the constitution, a parliamentary session changed from lasting a year to lasting for four years. As a result, the speech no longer marks the opening of a session of parliament but the start of a new parliamentary year.

Norway

In Norway, the monarch is required by article 74 of the constitution to preside over the opening of a session of the Storting (which happens every October) after it has been declared to be legally constituted by the president of the Storting. The monarch delivers the speech before parliamentarians in the chamber of the Storting. The heir to the throne also regularly accompanies the monarch.

Upon the monarch's arrival in the chamber, the members of the Storting stand and the first verse of the royal anthem, Kongesangen, is sung. The monarch is handed the speech by the prime minister and proceeds to deliver the speech while all remain standing. Afterwards, the monarch and members take their seats and the Report on the State of the Realm, an account of the government achievement of the past year, is read (traditionally in Nynorsk), customarily by the youngest member of the government present.

The members and monarch rise and the monarch is presented with the report by the prime minister and the monarch returns the speech and report to the president. The president gives some remarks and closes with "May God preserve our King and country", joined by other members of the Storting and the first verse of the national anthem is then sung. After the monarch and his retinue have left, the meeting is adjourned and the speech and report are first debated at the subsequent sitting.

Spain
In Spain, speeches from the throne used to be practiced before the declaration of the Second Spanish Republic in 1931. With the restoration of the Spanish monarchy in 1975, the monarch still opens parliament but no longer gives a "speech from the throne". The monarch gives a speech but the speech does not focus or direct government policy.

Sweden

In Sweden, the practice of having a speech from the throne given by the monarch was held until 1974, coinciding with the rewrite of the constitution of Sweden which removed formal involvement of the monarch in the legislative process. The old opening of the legislature was called "The Solemn Opening of the Riksdag" () and was full of symbolism. The speech was given before the Riksdag in the Hall of State at the Royal Palace. The King would be seated on the Silver Throne as he gave his speech.

Prior to 1907, the monarch and the princes of the royal blood would also wear their royal and princely robes and their crowns and coronets. After Oscar II's death, his successor, Gustav V was not crowned, and thus did not wear the crown when opening the Riksdag. Instead, the crown and sceptre would be placed on cushions beside the throne and the robe would be draped on the throne.

After the abolition of the opening ceremony at the palace, last held in 1974 and only once during the reign of Carl XVI Gustaf, the opening is now held at the Riksdag chamber in the presence of the monarch and his family. It is still the monarch who officially opens the annual session but he no longer gives a "speech from the throne"; the monarch is invited by the Speaker and delivers an introductory speech and then declares the session open. After the speech, the Prime Minister delivers a statement of the upcoming government agenda () for the forthcoming legislative year is made.

Thailand
In Thailand, the monarch makes a speech at a joint session in the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall, advising the National Assembly in their work.

Republics
Many republics also hold a yearly event in which the president gives a speech to a joint session of the legislature, such as the State of the Union address given by the president of the United States and in most U.S. states, where the governor gives a similar State of the State address. Similarly, the president of the Philippines gives the State of the Nation Address. Often such are on or near the first day of the legislature's new session. However, in theory, rather than just outline the priorities for the coming year, the head of state is supposed to provide a report to the legislature on what the country's condition is, hence the term State of the Nation.

Historical speeches

See also
 Opening of the Canadian parliament
 State of the Nation (disambiguation)
 National Day Rally
 Royal Christmas Message

References

External links

Canada
 Speech from the Throne
 Parliament of Canada records of past Speeches from the Throne and Motions for Address in Reply

United Kingdom
 Queen's Speech in the UK Parliament 2021 – GOV.UK
 Queen's Speech in the UK Parliament December 2019 – GOV.UK
 Queen's Speech in the UK Parliament October 2019 – GOV.UK
 Queen's Speech in the UK Parliament 2017 – GOV.UK
 Queen's Speech in the UK Parliament 2016 – GOV.UK
 All speeches in Parliament by the Queen – They Work For You

Monarchy
Throne
Canadian traditions
Joint meetings of bicameral legislatures

Speech from the throne


Church Bay is perhaps the most popular snorkelling beach in Bermuda.  It is located in Church Bay Park off South Road in Southampton Parish on the main island.  The reef is close to the shore and many colourful fish gather along it.

This "W" is located incorrectly on the map of Bermuda.  It is not near Wilkinson Ave nor is it in Harrington Sound.  It is located as described in the narrative.

 Church Bay beach is located in Bermuda's Southampton parish. It has always been one of our great favorites for snorkeling. This is a little cove formed by coral cliffs at the western end of the south-shore beaches. The beach area is very small and practically disappears during high tide. We usually take bus #7 to reach the Church bay beach park. The beach park is at the top of a small hill. The bus stops near the car park. A steep pathway and a staircase from the park leads down to this wonderful beach.

References

External links
 Church Bay Travel Info - Bermuda4u.com - Travel Info on Church Bay

Bays of Bermuda
Southampton Parish, Bermuda

Church Bay, Bermuda


Honey Island is an unincorporated community in Hardin County, Texas, United States. It is part of the Beaumont–Port Arthur Metropolitan Statistical Area. The Kountze Independent School District provides public schools for area students.

Though not usually an island, it is located on elevated land between the Cypress and Flat Cypress creeks, which rise in heavy rain, thereby temporarily isolating the area as an island.

Historical development
During the time of the American Civil War, this site was known to attract Jayhawkers due to the area's numerous beehives. In addition to using the honey as food source, they would often stash honey in hidden pots that local sympathizers would exchange for supplies. This activity would eventually lead to the Kaiser Burnout by the confederates in the nearby cane fields.

In 1901 the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway reached the site, and by 1907 a post office was established. The local sawmill was sold several times until it fell into ownership of the Kirby Lumber Company owned by John Henry Kirby. The mill closed during the Great Depression, but it opened again to run until its final closure in 1955.

Population
According to the 1950 census, the community had 1,250 inhabitants. By the 1990 census, its population was reported to have declined to 400. As of the 2000 census, its population had remained essentially stable at 401.

References

Unincorporated communities in Hardin County, Texas
Unincorporated communities in Texas
Beaumont–Port Arthur metropolitan area

Honey Island, Texas


Lead poisoning is a condition where there is too much lead in the body. Lead interferes with many processes. It is toxic to many organs and tissues. Treatment of the condition is usually to remove the source of lead. Some animals die from lead poisoning. Mostly, children are at risk for this condition. Symptoms of lead poisoning include coughing, fatigue, and severe dehydration.

Toxicology

Lead poisoning


Canyelles () is a Barcelona Metro station, named after the nearby Canyelles neighbourhood, in the Nou Barris district of the city of Barcelona. The station is served by line L3.

The station is located under Carrer de Federico García Lorca and Via Favència-Ronda de Dalt. It has an access on each side of the station on to Mercat-García Lorca and Via Favència, and Parc de Josep Maria Serra Martí. The single  long island platform is flanked by two tracks.

The station was opened in 2001, when the section of line L3 was extended from Montbau station. It remained the terminus of line L3 until 2008, when the line was further extended to Trinitat Nova station.

Canyelles station was designed by Alfons Soldevila and is considerably more modern-looking than most of the city's other stations.

Gallery

References

External links

Barcelona Metro line 3 stations
Railway stations in Spain opened in 2001
Transport in Nou Barris

Canyelles station


Dream Ahead (foaled 20 February 2008) is a retired thoroughbred racehorse, who was bred in Kentucky and based in England during a nine race career which lasted from July 2010 to October 2011. As a two-year-old he was officially rated the equal of Frankel after winning the Prix Morny and the Middle Park Stakes. As a three-year-old he was successfully campaigned at sprint distances, winning the July Cup at Newmarket and defeating Goldikova in the  Prix de la Forêt. He was named Europe's Champion Sprinter at the 2011 Cartier Racing Awards.

Background
Dream Ahead, a bay colt with a narrow white blaze and three white socks, was bred in Kentucky by the Darley Stud. He was sired by Diktat, a British sprinter from the Godolphin Arabian sire-line who won the Haydock Sprint Cup in 1999. Apart from Dream Ahead, his most notable offspring has been the Falmouth Stakes winner Rajeem. Dream Ahead's dam, Land of Dreams, was another successful British sprinter who won the Flying Childers Stakes in 1997 and the King George Stakes in 1998. Dream Ahead was offered for sale as a yearling at Keeneland in September 2009, and was bought for $11,000 by the bloodstock agent Federico Barberini. Dream Ahead was then purchased for Khalifa Dasmal by Mark Crossman for £36,000 in April 2010 and sent into training with David Simcock in Newmarket, Suffolk.

Racing career

2010: two-year-old season
Dream Ahead made his first racecourse appearance at Nottingham in July 2010, in which he was ridden by William Buick, who would become his regular jockey. Running in a six furlong maiden race he took the lead a furlong from the finish and pulled clear despite hanging to the left in the closing stages and won by nine lengths. Five weeks later, Dream Ahead was moved into the highest class when he contested the Group One Prix Morny at Deauville. Starting at odds of 8/1 he took the lead inside the final furlong and won "comfortably", although he again drifted from a straight course towards the finish.

Dream Ahead returned to England for his next race, the Group One Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket, for which he started 5/4 favourite. Buick restrained the colt in the early stages before moving him forward to take the lead a furlong from the finish. In the closing stages he drew clear of the opposition whilst again hanging to the left, winning by nine lengths from the second favourite Strong Suit. Two weeks after his win in the Middle Park Stakes, Dream Ahead returned to Newmarket for the seven furlong Dewhurst Stakes in which he was pitted against the undefeated Frankel. The race between the two colts was highly anticipated and expected to be "one of the great two-year-old races of our time". Dream Ahead was held up towards the rear of the field before being switched to the outside two furlongs from the finish. He was soon seen to be struggling and made no impression, finishing fifth of the six runners behind Frankel.

2011: three-year-old season
Dream Ahead failed to appear in the early part of 2011, with connections explaining that the colt was unsuited by the prevailing firm ground. He made his first appearance of the year at Royal Ascot in the St James's Palace Stakes. The field included Frankel, who had gone on to win the 2000 Guineas and started the odds-on favourite. Dream Ahead was never in serious contention and finished fifth of the nine runners, having been eased by Buick in the closing stages. On 9 July, Dream Ahead was brought back in distance for the six furlong July Cup at Newmarket. With Buick unavailable, Dream Ahead was ridden by Hayley Turner, who was attempting to become the first woman to ride the outright winner of a British Group One flat race. Turner positioned the colt just behind the leaders, but had difficulty obtaining a clear run a furlong from the finish. In the closing stages, Dream Ahead belatedly found a clear run and finished strongly to catch Bated Breath inside the furlong and won "readily" by half a length. Dream Ahead started favourite for the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville four weeks later, but made no impression in the closing stages and finished unplaced behind Moonlight Cloud.

In September, Dream Ahead started 4/1 favourite for the Sprint Cup at Haydock Park Racecourse. He raced prominently before Buick sent him into the lead two furlongs from the finish. In a "thrilling" three-way finish he prevailed by a nose from Bated Breath with Hoof It a short head back in third. On his final start Dream Ahead contested the Prix de la Forêt at Longchamp, in which he was matched against Goldikova. The French mare started the 4/7 favourite with Dream Ahead being made the 7/2 second choice in the betting. Dream Ahead tracked Goldikova before moving up to take the lead 200m from the finish and the two favourites quickly drew several lengths clear of the opposition. Dream Ahead ran on strongly under pressure to beat Goldikova by a head.

Following his win over Goldikova, Dream Ahead was retired to stand at the Ballylinch Stud.

Stud career

Notable progeny

c = colt, f = filly, g = geldingAssessment
At the end of the 2010 season, Dream Ahead was rated on 126, alongside Frankel, making him the equal-best two-year-old in Europe.

In the 2011 World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings, Dream Ahead was rated the seventh best racehorse in the world with a rating of 126.

Dream Ahead was named Europe's Champion Sprinter at the Cartier Racing Awards.

Pedigree

References

External links
 Career 1-2-3 Colour Chart – Dream Ahead''

2008 racehorse births
Racehorses bred in Kentucky
Racehorses trained in the United Kingdom
Thoroughbred family 1-b
Godolphin Arabian sire line

Dream Ahead


(born 23 February 1993) is a retired Japanese table tennis player. A regular member of the Japanese national team, she won a silver medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics, a bronze at the 2016 Summer Olympics, and a silver medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics, in Women's team.

She is a left-handed inverted rubber shakehand player who primarily uses speedy top-spins and loops in offensive play.

Biography
Kasumi Ishikawa's entire family, which consists of her father, mother, and younger sister, play or used to play competitive table tennis. She has a younger sister, Rira, who was also a professional table tennis player, while her mother Kumi Ishikawa is her current coach.

Upon graduation from Hirakawa Primary School in Yamaguchi, Ishikawa wrote in the yearbook of her dream to play in the Olympics. She first got public attention when she managed to defeat high school and even university students much older than her in her first ever All Japan Table Tennis Championships. Since 2007, she has won the All Japan Table Tennis Championships – female junior division; four years in a row. She was also nicknamed Ai-Chan II, a comparison to fellow athlete Ai Fukuhara, who also started playing table tennis at a young age. She models her underspin serve after Fukuhara.

Her talent for table tennis was due partly to her parents, both former players, who gave Ishikawa special training since she was young. Her mother, Kumi Ishikawa, had played at the national level. In the autumn of her first year of primary school, a special practice area in their house was erected to help her train more rigorously. After graduating from primary school, Ishikawa decided to live away from home and devote herself to table tennis. She entered Shitennoji Habikigaoka Middle School, and then Shitennoji High School in Osaka Prefecture. She practiced with all-Japan-Class players until late at night including holidays. Her aggressive attacking style coupled with formidable speed were developed there. She began working towards the Olympics and played in international tournaments representing her club; ZEN-NOH, Japan.

She competed at the 2009 World Table Tennis Championships, reaching the quarter-final of the singles competition. In 2011, she won the national singles title at the age of 17. She quickly rose through the world rankings in recent years and managed to secure a place to compete at the London 2012 Olympics. She is currently ranked 6th in the ITTF women's world ranking as of July 2012 but has achieved ranking as high as 5th. She is now the best female table tennis player in Japan after managing to overtake Ai Fukuhara in rankings.

She reached the semi-finals of the Women's Singles at the London 2012 Olympics but lost out to eventual gold medal winner; Li Xiaoxia of China. In the bronze medal play-off, she lost out to Feng Tianwei of Singapore. She finished an overall 4th position. This was her first ever Olympics participation and despite her young age of 19, she was seeded no. 4 at the Women's Singles Event. She is also the first ever Japanese to have reached the semi-finals of the tournament.

At the Women's Team Event semi-finals, Kasumi Ishikawa helped Japan to overcome Singapore by defeating her quarter-finals opponent in the Single's, Wang Yuegu in three straight games. In the third Double's game, she paired up with Sayaka Hirano to overcome Wang Yuegu and Li Jiawei in three straight games as well. The wins together with Ai Fukuhara overcoming Feng Tianwei in the first game brought Japan to their first table tennis finals in the Olympics in three straight matches. However, Japan failed to beat China in the finals but got their first ever silver medal in table tennis.

She won bronze with the Japanese Olympic team in Rio de Janeiro 2016, beating together with Ai Fukuhara and Mima Ito on her side the team from Singapore. She also represented Japan in the women's singles event, where she crashed out of the tournament after suffering a cramp in her leg, losing 4–3 to North Korea's Kim Song-i in their third-round match.

At the 2017 World Table Tennis Championships held in Düsseldorf, partnering compatriot Maharu Yoshimura in the mixed doubles event, Ishikawa and Yoshimura progressed through to the final, beating the combination of Fang Bo and Petrissa Solja in the semi-finals, and overcame the Taiwanese pair of Chen Chien-an and Cheng I-ching 4–3 to win the first title in this tournament. It was also Japan's first mixed doubles gold medal after 48 years.

In January 2020, she was announced to be part of the women's table tennis team for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, together with Ito Mima and Miu Hirano. Furthermore, she will be making her third appearance in the Singles category with Ito Mima.

2021
Ishikawa defeated Miyuu Kihara in the semi-finals and Mima Ito in the finals to win the All Japan National Championships in 2021 for the first time in five years. Afterwards, Ishikawa said that she was enjoying practicing recently, which she attributed to the pandemic putting things in perspective.

In her first international event of 2021, Ishikawa was upset by Hina Hayata in the round of 16 in the WTT Contender event at WTT Doha.

In June, Ishikawa stated that she was 70% ready for the Tokyo Olympics and that she wanted to spend the final month preparing so that there would be no regrets.

Ishikawa lost in the quarter-finals of the Tokyo Olympics to Yu Mengyu of Singapore. Ishikawa won silver in the team event.

2023
On May 1, Ishikawa announced her retirement from international table tennis.

Popularity
In Japan, Ishikawa has ranked among the five "most-liked" sportswomen every year from 2014 to 2020 in surveys published by Oricon, after ranking No. 10 in 2013. As she is fluent in Mandarin which she learned from Chinese coaches, her popularity has also extended to China. When she opened a Sina Weibo account in 2016, she gained over 60,000 followers on the first day.

Ishikawa appeared in the 2017 film Mixed Doubles as herself.

Career records
Singles
All Japan Championship: 1st (2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2021), 2nd (2012, 2013, 2017, 2019).
World Cup: 2nd (2015), 3rd (2014).
World Tour Grand Finals: 1st (2014), 3rd (2016).
Asian Championships: QF (2012).
Table tennis at the 2012 Summer Olympics: 4th (2012).
World Tour winner (8): Morocco Open (2010), Chile Open (2011), Russian Open (2014), Swedish Open (2016), Bulgaria Open (2015, 2017), German Open (2018), Czech Open (2018).
World Championships: QF (2009, 2017).
Asian Cup: 3rd (2007, 2013, 2017, 2018, 2019).

Doubles
World Championships: round of 16 (2011).
Pro Tour winner (6): Morocco Open (2009); German, Morocco, Hungarian Open (2010), Chile Open (2011), Bulgaria Open (2017).
Pro Tour Grand Finals: runner-up (2011).
Asian Games: SF (2010).

Mixed doubles
World Championships: 1st (2017, 2019), 2nd (2015), round of 16 (2011).
Asian Games: SF (2010).
Asian Championships: QF (2009).

Team
World Championships: 2nd (2014, 2016, 2018), 3rd (2008, 2010).
World Team Cup: 2nd (2011, 2013, 2018, 2019); 3rd (2009, 2010, 2015).
Table tennis at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's team: Silver (2012).
Table tennis at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Women's team: Bronze (2016).
Table tennis at the 2020 Summer Olympics – Women's team: Silver (2021).

References

External links

1993 births
Living people
Japanese female table tennis players
People from Yamaguchi (city)
Asian Games medalists in table tennis
Table tennis players at the 2012 Summer Olympics
Table tennis players at the 2016 Summer Olympics
Table tennis players at the 2020 Summer Olympics
Olympic medalists in table tennis
Olympic silver medalists for Japan
Olympic bronze medalists for Japan
Medalists at the 2012 Summer Olympics
Medalists at the 2016 Summer Olympics
Medalists at the 2020 Summer Olympics
Olympic table tennis players for Japan
Table tennis players at the 2010 Asian Games
Table tennis players at the 2014 Asian Games
Asian Games silver medalists for Japan
Asian Games bronze medalists for Japan
Medalists at the 2010 Asian Games
Medalists at the 2014 Asian Games
World Table Tennis Championships medalists
Kinoshita Abyell Kanagawa players
Oath takers at the Olympic Games
21st-century Japanese women

Kasumi Ishikawa


Mariana Verkerk is a Dutch-American model, runway coach, agent, television personality, businesswoman and commercial producer. She has walked the runway for various designers, such as Michael Kors, Nicole Miller and Thierry Mugler. Since 2005, Mariana has served as a judge and runway coach on the TV shows Scandinavia's Next Top Model, Norway's Next Top Model (cycle 7), Benelux' Next Top Model, and Holland's Next Top Model.

Early life and discovery
Mariana Verkerk was born in 1960 and raised in Schiedam, a city outside of Rotterdam, The Netherlands. She started working for an American shipping company at the age of 16. Verkerk started modeling at age 20 after being convinced to go to New York City by a fashion journalist.

As soon as she arrived in New York City, she met with numerous agencies. All of them rejected her, claiming that she was too old - she was 21 at the time. Mariana returned to the Netherlands, and a few months later, she chose to return to New York City. Her career took off after a young fashion designer asked her to walk the runway for him..

Career

Modeling

After signing with Elite Model Management, Verkerk worked with supermodels such as Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss, and Tyra Banks.

As a model, Mariana travelled all over the world to walk fashion shows for Michael Kors, Nicole Miller, Thierry Mugler, Carolina Herrera, Bill Blass, Victoria's Secret, Bogner, Maidenform, Escada, Gloria Vanderbilt, Paloma Picasso, Halston, Zang Toi, Akris, and Anne Cole.

Mariana has appeared on the cover and inside pages of Elle, Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Paper, and Forbes.

Coaching

In 1983, Elite Model Management started Elite Model Look, an annual event to discover new female fashion models. Mariana was asked to prepare the new fashion talents for the runway.

Verkerk became a runway coach for Model Search America (now Mogull Talent), which at the time was one of the largest scouting companies in the US. During the course of ten years attended conventions and gave motivational speeches across the country. Over the years, she has taught tens of thousands of people how to walk the runway.

Television

In 2005, Mariana became the Posing Coach and a jury member for Scandinavia's Next Top Model, and later for Norway's Next Top Model, Benelux Next Top Model, and Holland's Next Top Model. During that time, she also appeared in other Dutch programs such as Atlas and 'Jouw vrouw/Mijn vrouw VIPS'.

Expeditie Robinson a.k.a. Dutch Survivor
Mariana joined the show for the 20th anniversary, which took place in the Philippines in 2019. In 20 Mariana competed in the All-Star edition of Expeditie Robinson which aired in the spring of 2022. Mariana was a semifinalist in both seasons.

The Model Convention
Mariana's role as a judge and coach on Hollands Next Top Model earned her the nickname 'Queen of the Catwalk' in The Netherlands. Inspired by the numerous messages she received from aspiring models, Mariana founded The Model Convention in 2008. The event, held once a year at the 'Huishoudbeurs' in Amsterdam, brings together prestigious modeling agencies like Women, Wilhelmina, Ford Models USA, Donna Models Tokyo, and Storm London, among others. The convention offers a platform for undiscovered talent to be scouted by these agencies and pursue modeling opportunities.

Producing
Since 2009, Mariana produces and choreographs fashion shows all over the world. Her contributions across the globe include China Fashion Week, New York Fashion Week, Los Angeles Fashion Week and Amsterdam Fashion Week. Verkerk has also produced commercials for brands like McDonald's, FBTO, Rabobank, and Marie Stella Maris. Furthermore, Mariana was responsible for the U.S. production of American singer-songwriter Matt Simons' music video for the song "Catch & Release".

References

1960 births
Living people
American people of Dutch descent

Mariana Verkerk


Ken Yamauchi (山内賢, Yamauchi Ken, December 9, 1943 - September 24, 2011) was a Japanese actor, singer and moderator. His real name was Akira Fujise (藤瀬 賢晁).

Biography
Yamauchi was born in Tokyo in 1943. He graduated from the Takinogawa Daiyon Elementary School and Kita Ward Shinmachi Junior High School (currently Tabata Junior High School). At the Tamagawa University, he meet Mitsuo Hamada, a fellow classmate and latter became his friend. His older brother Akira Kubo was an actor for Toho. Yamauchi's height was 170 cm his blood was Type A. In 1955, he made his debut as a child actor under the stage name "Ken Kubo" in "Sugata naki mokugekisha". Yamauchi would later appeared in Toho's films. On April 1, 1962, he signed a contract with Nikkatsu and changed his stage name to "Ken Yamauchi".

He appeared in many Nikkatsu movies such as youth films. His first film in Nikkatsu was Kumo ni mukatte tatsu, which starring Yujiro Ishihara. He supported the Nikkatsu Junai / Youth route, which became a relatable in the 1960s. There are many co-starring works with Masako Izumi, and appeared other films such as "The Bastard" and "Stories of Bastards: Born Under a Bad Star" directed by Seijun Suzuki are representative works. He also co-starring with legendary Enka singer Kazuo Funaki. He specializes in singing and playing guitar. In 1962, he formed a band called Young and Fresh (ヤング・アンド・フレッシュ, Yangu Ando furesshu) with Koji Wada, Toshio Sugiyama, Hajime Sugiyama, and Masahiro Kinoshita (four were Nikkatsu actors), and released records and they would featured in several movies. In 1966, the band sung "Futari no Ginza" and "Tokyo Night" with Masako Izumi became big hits, and the movie of the same name was also produced (Ginza Lights and Tokyo Night). With the decline of Japanese movies, Yamauchi moved his career to other television studios and played an active part as a singer, public speaker and moderators. His best known role was a teacher in the "Abare Hatchaku Series", aired from 1979 to 1982, and in NHK's "Hobby Course" (played as a fisherman and mountain climber) broadcast from 1983, 1997, and 1998. In the summer of 2003, Yamauchi was diagnosed with lung cancer, but was later recovered soon after.  After that, 4 operations were performed on Yamauchi after suffering from both metastases and esophageal cancers.

On November 17, 2007 at the Keio Plaza Hotel in Shinjuku, a joint parties called " The Actors Club" that consists former voice and screen actors and "The Old Friendship Club", featuring film directors, producers, screenwriters and other staff members who worked at Nikkatsu. The party was attended by Tetsuya Watari, Ruriko Asaoka, Joe Shishido, Izumi Ashikawa, Chieko Matsubara, Tamio Kawachi, Tadao Sawamoto, Seijun Suzuki, Umetsugu Inoue, Buichi Saito, Toshio Masuda and others. In September 2008, he released a new duet song "Adult Ginza" with Masako Izumi for the first time in 40 years.

In addition, a new album recording the hit works of the past including "Two Ginza" will be released. In February 2009, he was co-starring for the "Abare Hatchaku Series" in the planning of a new television program with other actors who appeared back in the 70s and 80s, Tomonori Yoshida (first generation Abare Hatchaku), Atsushi Kurimata (2nd generation Abare Hatchaku), and reunited with Yukako Hayase (the first heroine) and others for the first time in 30 years. Yamauchi died at a hospital in Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo on September 24, 2011 at 4:53 am due to pneumonia at the age of 67. The priest who see Yamauchi for the last time was "Kensho Takaoka, a resident of Jyokeiin." At his funeral on September 26th of that same year, his fellow colleagues Mitsuo Hamada, Sayuri Yoshinaga, Masako Izumi and others attended, and Izumi said in a condolence, "There are many seniors in heaven, so I asked them to make an alumni association."

Filmography

 All films and TV shows on IMDb

Ken Yamauchi


Gardenburger is the brand name of a veggie burger sold in the United States. It was developed in the early 1980s by Paul Wenner, the owner of the Gardenhouse, a vegetarian restaurant in Gresham, Oregon. It is currently owned by Kellanova.

History
The Gardenburger was developed by Paul Wenner around 1981 or 1982 in Wenner's vegetarian restaurant, The Gardenhouse, in Gresham, Oregon. The company was incorporated as Wholesome & Hearty Foods, Inc., in March 1985. Initial funding was given to founders Paul Wenner and Allyn Smaaland as part of a venture capital investment program of Louisiana-Pacific Corp., whereby L-P took immediate controlling interest. A second round of venture capital financing was provided about a year later.

In 2005, Gardenburger filed for bankruptcy, though it continued operation by becoming privately held.

In 2006, Gardenburger announced that it had taken eggs out of all of its products except for one private-sourced item, which now contains organic, cage-free eggs.

In 2006, the company changed its name back to Wholesome & Hearty Foods.

In 2007, the Kellogg Company purchased the Wholesome & Hearty Foods company.

Products
The company makes a variety of vegetarian and vegan products and meat substitutes. According to the company's website, the original Gardenburger was made from mushrooms, onions, brown rice, rolled oats, cheese, eggs, garlic, and spices. Gardenburger is a registered trademark of the Wholesome and Hearty Foods Company, a subsidiary of Kellogg Company.

Although all Gardenburger products are vegetarian, some of them are not vegan and include animal-derived ingredients such as eggs or dairy products, such as milk and cheese.

In 2012, Gardenburger sold five types of veggie burgers: Veggie medley (vegan), The Original (vegetarian), Black Bean Chipotle Veggie Burger (vegan), Sun-Dried Tomato Basil (vegetarian), and Portabella (vegetarian).

See also

 List of meat substitutes

References

External links

Food product brands
Meat substitutes
History of Gresham, Oregon
Kellogg's brands
1985 establishments in Oregon
Food and drink introduced in the 1980s

Gardenburger


Austria is a federal republic consisting of nine federal states. The European Commission calls them provinces. Austrian federal states can pass laws that stay within the limits of the constitution, and each federal state has representatives in the main Austrian parliament.

Geography

The majority of the land area in the federal states of Upper Austria, Lower Austria, Vienna, and Burgenland is situated in the Danube valley and thus consists almost completely of accessible and easily arable terrain. Austria's most densely populated federal state is Vienna, the heart of what is Austria's only metropolitan area. Lower Austria ranks only fourth in population density even though it contains Vienna's suburbs; this is due to large areas of land being predominantly agricultural. The alpine federal state Tyrol, the less alpine but geographically more remote federal state Carinthia, and the non-alpine but near-exclusively agricultural federal state Burgenland are Austria's least densely populated federal states. The wealthy alpine federal state Vorarlberg is something of an anomaly due to its small size, isolated location and distinct Alemannic culture.

Federalism and federal state powers
Each Austrian federal state has an elected legislature, the federal state parliament, and a federal state government (Landesregierung) headed by a governor (Landeshauptmann or Landeshauptfrau). Elections are held every five years (six years in Upper Austria). The federal state constitution, among other things, determines how the seats in the federal state government are assigned to political parties, with most federal states having a system of proportional representation based on the number of delegates in the federal state parliament in place. The governor is elected by the federal state parliament, though in practice the governor is the leader of the majority party or coalition in the federal state parliament.

Vienna, the capital of Austria, plays a double role as a city and a federal state. The mayor has the rank of a federal state governor, while the city council also functions as a federal state parliament. Under the municipal constitution, however, city and federal state business must be kept separate. Hence, while the city council and the federal state parliament have identical memberships, they hold separate meetings, and each body has separate presiding officers. When meeting as a city council, the deputies can only deal with city affairs; when meeting as a federal state parliament, they can only deal with affairs of the state.

Austrian federalism is largely theoretical, as the federal states are granted few legislative powers. Austria's constitution initially granted all legislative powers to the federal states, but many powers have been subsequently taken away, and only a few remain, such as planning and zoning codes, nature protection, hunting, fishing, farming, youth protection, certain issues of public health and welfare and the right to levy certain taxes.

All other matters, including but not limited to criminal law, civil law, corporate law, most aspects of economic law, defense, most educational matters and academia, telecommunications, and much of the healthcare system are regulated by national law. There is also no judiciary of the federal states, since Austria's constitution defines the judiciary as an exclusively national matter. This centralisation follows a historic model where central power during the time of the empire was largely concentrated in Vienna.

However, the federal state governor (Landeshauptmann) is in charge of the administration of much of federal administrative law within the respective province, which makes this post an important political position. Furthermore, federal state competences include zoning laws, planning issues and public procurement on the regional level, which adds considerable weight to federal state politics. As a practical matter, there have been cases where federal states have been able to block projects endorsed by the national government, as in the case of a railway tunnel that was to be built under the Semmering.

Austrian federal states are formally and practically endowed with a much smaller degree of autonomy than American states or German lands. Even so, Austrians tend to identify passionately with their respective federal state and often defend what little independent governance their federal state has. It is not unheard of for Austrians to consider themselves, for instance, Tyrolean first, Austrian second.

Historical development
In terms of boundaries, the present-day federal states arose from the crown lands of Austria-Hungary, an extensive multiethnic realm whose German-speaking nucleus emerged as the Republic of Austria after the dissolution of the Dual Monarchy in the end of World War I.

The federal states of Upper Austria and Lower Austria are essentially equivalent to what were the two halves of the Archduchy of Austria, a principality which formed the empire's historic heartland. Salzburg is coterminous with the former Austro-Hungarian Duchy of Salzburg (the former Archbishopric). Similarly, the federal state of Carinthia descends from the Duchy of Carinthia, the federal state of Styria descends from the Duchy of Styria, and the federal state of Tyrol descends from the Princely County of Tyrol; these three federal states had to cede territories to Czechoslovakia, Italy, and Yugoslavia when Austria emerged in its present form. The federal state of Vorarlberg is made up of territories acquired by the House of Habsburg in the 14th and 15th centuries, and was a semi-autonomous part of the County of Tyrol from 1861.

The 1815 Congress of Vienna saw most of these areas lose their autonomy. Federal state charters were put in place in 1861, although power remained with the central government. Following the First World War, the federal state governments declared themselves part of the Republic of German-Austria. Negotiations at this time between the federal state governments and the national governments resulted in the agreement to form a federation, with a nationally elected lower house and an upper house representing the provinces.

The city-federal state of Vienna was a part of Lower Austria up until 1921. The federal state of Burgenland is made up of the predominantly German-speaking area that the Kingdom of Hungary until 1921 had to cede to the First Austrian Republic after World War I as a result of the Treaties of Trianon and Saint-Germain-en-Laye.

List of federal states
The nine federal states () of Austria are:

For the purpose of the above list, a city is a community defined to be a city by Austrian law, and a town is a community not defined to be a city. Many of Austria's cities have population figures on the order of 10,000 inhabitants; some are even smaller.

See also
Distribution of seats in Austrian federal state parliaments
Districts of Austria
Flags of Austrian states
Coats of arms of the Austrian states
ISO 3166-2:AT
List of Austrian states by GDP
List of Austrian states by Human Development Index

References

Subdivisions of Austria
Austria, States
Austria 1
States, Austria
Austria geography-related lists

Federal states of Austria


Giuseppe Pietri (Sant'Ilario, frazione of Marina di Campo, comune of Campo nell'Elba, 6 May 1886 – Milan, 11 August 1946) was an Italian composer, known primarily for his work in operetta.  Excerpts from one of his works, the opera Maristella, were widely recorded and continue to be so on CD.  The aria "Io conosco un giardino" from that work has been popular with tenors, and has been frequently recorded separately; among the singers to record it are Luciano Pavarotti, Beniamino Gigli, Joseph Calleja and more recently, Rolando Villazón.
Pietri studied composition at the Milan Conservatory at Gaetano Coronato. He studied harmony and counterpoint with Amintore Galli. He composed operas in versistical tradition, but it was his operettas that made him a popular success. He developed an independent Italian idiom for the operetta. The most famous was L'acqua cheta, which premiered in Rome in 1920. The text was from a 1908 Tuscan dialect piece by Augusto Novelli, a romantic comedy in the Florentine petty bourgeois style. Rompicollo was premiered in 1928 in Milan, and was translated into German as Das große Rennen ("The Big Race").

Works

Operas
 Calendimaggio, libretto by Pietro Gori, Florence 1910
 Ruy Blas, based on Victor Hugo, Bologna 1916
 Maristella, Naples 1934 (excerpts available on CD from Myto Records, with Rina Gigli and Agostino Lazzari, 1956)
 Bionda Rondine, Livorno 1937
 La canzone di San Giovanni, San Remo 1939

Operettas
 In Flemmerland, libretto by Antonio Rubino, Teatro Fossati, Milan, 1913
 Addio giovinezza ("Adieu, Youth"), libretto by Sandro Camasio and Nino Oxilia, Teatro Goldoni, Livorno, 1915
 La modella, libretto by Antonio Lega and Alfredo Testoni, Teatro Quirino, Rome, 1917
 Lucciola, libretto by Carlo Veneziani, Teatro Leopoldo, Livorno, 1918
 L'acqua cheta ("Still Waters"), libretto by Augusto Novelli and Angelo Nessi, National Dramatic Theatre, Rome, 1920
 L'ascensione, libretto by Augusto Novelli, Teatro della Pergola, Florence, 1922
 Guarda, guarda la mostarda!, libretto by Giovanni Antonio Colonna di Cesarò, Teatro dei Piccoli, Rome, 1923
 La donna perduta, libretto by Guglielmo Zorzi and Guglielmo Giannini, Teatro Adriano, Rome, 1923
 Quartetto vagabondo, libretto by Enrico Serretta, Teatro Eliseo, Rome, 1924
 Namba Zaim, libretto by Carlo Veneziani, Teatro Lirico, Milan, 1926
 Prima Rosa, libretto by Carlo Lombardo and Renato Simoni, Teatro Lirico, Milan, 1926
 Tuffolina, libretto by Augusto Novelli, Politeama, Genoa, 1927
 Rompicollo ("The Race"), libretto by Luigi Bonelli and Ferdinando Paolieri, Teatro Dal Verme, Milan, 1928
 L'isola verde, libretto by Carlo Lombardo, Teatro Lirico, Milan, 1929
 Casa mia casa mia ..., libretto by Augusto Novelli and Angelo Nessi, Teatro Quirino, Rome, 1930
 Gioconda Zappaterra, libretto by Giulio Bucciolini, Teatro Alfieri, Florence, 1930
 La dote di Jeannette, libretto by Arturo Rossato, Teatro Principe, Rome, 1931
 Vent'anni, libretto by Luigi Bonelli, Teatro Quirino, Rome, 1932

References

Buzzi, Vittore, Le vie di Milano, Hoepli Editore, 2005, p. 320.
 GIUSEPPE BARDONE "VITA ED OPERE DI GIUSEPPE PIETRI" ACADEMIA EDU 2016

External links
Concerto con le musiche di Pietri, Comune di Arezzo, 25 October 2006 (Photograph)

1886 births
1946 deaths
Italian classical composers
Italian male classical composers
Italian opera composers
Male opera composers
People from the Province of Livorno
Milan Conservatory alumni
20th-century classical composers
20th-century Italian composers
20th-century Italian male musicians

Giuseppe Pietri


The National Library of the Republic of Mauritius is the national library of Mauritius. It has been entrusted by law as the national institution responsible for collecting, bibliographically recording, preserving and making available the nation's collective memory, and also provides information on practically all branches of knowledge, and functions as a center of coordination, planning and stimulation of the country's library system.

The institution was established by the Government under the National Library Act, 1996 (Act No. 32) as a body corporate, under the Ministry of Arts and Culture. The National Library of the Republic of Mauritius was officially opened to the public in January 2000.

Vision
The National Library of the Republic of Mauritius aims to be a top class library in the provision of information services to the nation, thus contributing to its development.

Mission statement
The National Library would provide equal access to information to all Mauritian nationals, thus leveling educational opportunities and deepening the democratization process. The objectives of the National Library are to promote and encourage the use of library materials; to acquire  new library materials generally, and, in particular, materials relating to Mauritius; to lend library materials to the public; to participate in planning library services in Mauritius; to promote research in library fields and provide assistance in information handling techniques; to act as the national bibliographic center and maintain the national bibliography; to act as an organizing agency for national and international lending and exchange of library materials; and to initiate and promote cooperation between the library and other libraries, both at national and international levels.

Role of the National Library of Mauritius
The main role of the National Library of Mauritius is to build a comprehensive collection of our national heritage by collecting, receiving and preserving all publications and productions, printed and produced in Mauritius for present and future generations. The main source of acquisition is by means of the legal deposit system as per the National Library Act 1996 which stipulates that every printer in Mauritius is required to deposit, free of charge, with the Director of the National Library six copies of each publication, be it a book, periodical, report, newspaper or any other printed document. The same rule applies to all the producers in Mauritius who have to deposit six copies of any non-print materials produced. To ensure that access is given to the most comprehensive collection of Mauritiana materials, the National Library has to acquire all print and non-print materials published and printed abroad, whose subject matter is related to Mauritius. The National Library is also responsible to build a collection of foreign reference materials on different subjects of interest for the benefit of the Mauritian public at large. As an apex institution in the field of information in Mauritius, the National Library functions as a central institution for coordination, planning and development of the entire library system of Mauritius.

Holdings
The National Library's Mauritius collection consists of materials in various formats such as: written or graphic records, typescripts, books, newspapers, periodicals, music scores, photographs, maps, drawings, and non-print materials such as films, filmstrips, audiovisual items including tapes, discs and reproductions relating to any subject and produced in Mauritius or relating to Mauritius and produced overseas.  The Library's holdings totaled 510,000 as of 2014–15. Subject coverage includes: agriculture, architecture, biography, computer science, economics, geography, handicraft, history, languages, literature, politics, pure and applied sciences, religion and so on. Our holdings also comprise rare documents namely bluebooks, almanacs, administrative reports, National Assembly debates, manuscripts, theses/dissertations, government gazettes, newspapers, and other documents dating back to 1777.

See also
 National Archives of Mauritius

References

External links
 Official site

1996 establishments in Mauritius
Mauritian culture
Mauritius
Libraries established in 1996
Deposit libraries
Libraries in Mauritius

National Library of Mauritius


William James Ray is an Australian retired bishop. He was the tenth Anglican bishop of North Queensland in Australia. He was consecrated a bishop in March 2007 and installed as the 10th bishop of North Queensland on 24 March 2007. He retired as Bishop of North Queensland on 21 September 2018.

Born in country Victoria on 19 October 1950, Ray went to teachers college and began life as a primary school teacher, soon becoming head teacher of a rural school. In his young adult years he led a scout troop, contributed to diocesan committees such as the Camp and Conference committee, lead several camps, represented the Diocese of Gippsland on the General Board of Religious Education (GBRE) and studied theology by distance education. During this time he held a lay reader's license, often taking services of Morning and Evening Prayer in the Parish of Yarram.

From 1978 to 1981, Ray worked full-time with the young people of the Diocese of Brisbane, offering Bible studies, camps for various ages and assistance with youth groups, as well as providing training for Sunday school and religious education teachers and youth leaders. He also continued his involvement with GBRE. His ministry as youth and children's worker in the parish of St Luke's Toowoomba from late 1981 to 1986, was punctuated by two years at Duke University in North Carolina, where he studied for his Master of Religious Education. He moved back to Victoria at the beginning of 1987 to be the education officer for the Diocese of Gippsland and the regional officer for the Council for Christian Education in Schools.

Ray was ordained a deacon in Rockhampton in 1992 during the first few weeks of his five-year ministry as diocesan ministry training officer.  He was ordained a priest later that year. He served as a parish priest in the parishes of Wandal (Rockhampton), East Ivanhoe and Croydon (Melbourne) and as Archdeacon of Maroondah (outer eastern suburbs of Melbourne).

Over the life of his full-time ministry, Ray has had an active role in the Education for Ministry (EFM) programs at various levels from national trainer, to regional co-ordinator as well as a group mentor. He is also a proponent of the catechumenate program and has led this at both the parish and diocesan levels. He  became the director of GBRE in 2000, being equipped for this position over the years through his membership of the board, the executive and positions on various editorial committees. He has written a number of religious education programs and in recent years authored three Lenten study booklets.

Ray holds a Diploma of Teaching from Frankston Teachers' College; a Bachelor of Education from the Western Australian College of Education; a Licentiate of Theology from the Australian College of Theology and a Master of Religious Education from Duke University in the United States.

Ray is married to Robin and they have two children and three grandchildren.

References

1950 births
Living people
Anglican bishops of North Queensland
Anglican lay readers

Bill Ray (bishop)