A turnover ceremony held in May 2025 at the Philippine Consulate General in Sydney marked the official handover of the Kevin Weldon Earthenware Pottery Collection to the National Museum of the Philippines. The event coincided with Philippine National Heritage Month and the 79th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Australia, underscoring both nations’ commitment to preserving cultural heritage and strengthening bilateral ties.
The pottery collection was donated by the family of the late Kevin Weldon AO, a well-known Australian publisher and businessman who developed a strong interest in Southeast Asian history and culture in the 1970s. The artifacts, originally from the Philippines, reflect his appreciation for the country’s past and represent a symbolic gesture of friendship between the two countries.
“Steeped in history and culture, this collection is a tangible echo of our intertwined past and the shared values that continue to bind our two nations. To the Weldon family, your act of generosity honours not only the spirit of preserving heritage but also the ideals of friendship and cultural understanding,” Consul General Charmaine Rowena Aviquivil said in her welcome remarks.
Representing the family, Ms. Cecille Diane Weldon delivered a tribute to her father’s legacy and described how the collection had influenced their family’s appreciation of Filipino heritage. She spoke of how the items had become part of their personal history and expressed hope that their donation would contribute to the collection’s continuing story. Ms. Weldon was joined at the ceremony by Ms. Leonie May Weldon AO and other family members.
The ceremonial signing of the Deed of Donation was carried out by Ms. Cecille Diane Weldon and Ms. Leonie May Weldon AO on behalf of the family, and by Director-General Jeremy R. Barns for the National Museum of the Philippines. Consul General Aviquivil served as witness to the formal handover.
Director-General Barns, in his Message of Acceptance, referred to the donation as “a gift to the nation”.
He thanked the Weldon family for entrusting the collection to the Filipino people and reaffirmed the museum’s role in its preservation and public education.
The event concluded with a lecture by Dr. Mary Jane Louise Bolunia, Curator of Archaeology at the National Museum of the Philippines, titled “The History and Development of Philippine Ceramics: Focus on Earthenware Pottery.” Her presentation offered attendees insights into the evolution and cultural significance of Philippine ceramics.
Hosted at the Bulwagang Rizal of the Philippine Consulate in Sydney, the turnover ceremony served as a reminder of the enduring power of cultural exchange and the shared values that continue to connect the Philippines and Australia.
