How Swede it is for Dennis
Cairns businessman Dennis Howe has been awarded The Commander of the Royal Order of the Polar Star from the Swedish Government.
CAIRNS businessman Dennis Howe isn’t Swedish and can’t speak the language, but for the past two decades he has represented the country in North Queensland and helped travellers in need.
The Honorary Consul for Sweden for 22 years, Mr Howe was farewelled last week and awarded The Commander of the Royal Order of the Polar Star at a reception in his honour at Port Douglas.
The medal is awarded by the King of Sweden to foreign nationals who have demonstrated a devotion of duty to Sweden and was presented by the Speaker of the Swedish Parliament, Urban Ahlin.
The reception was also attended by the Swedish Ambassador to Australia, Par Ahlberger, and a delegation of Swedish parliamentarians.
Mr Howe’s unpaid consular role brought him into almost daily contract with travellers and resident Swedes. But language was never a problem.
“English is virtually a second language in Sweden. The only time I really needed an interpreter was when I got a document written in Swedish and required translation.”
His brief covered from Mt Isa to Townsville and north, an area popular with Swedish travellers. There’s been many a tear shed in his office as passports, credit cards and other belongings are reported stolen.
“One lass came to see me on Easter eve. She’d lost her passport somewhere between Hervey Bay and Cairns. There was no way I could get her a replacement by Friday, when she was due to travel, so I got out of her which coachline she was travelling on and phoned the head office in Sydney.”
The passport was found, flown to Cairns and arrived 90 minutes before her flight.
“I have never seen anyone so happy in my life. There’s a lot of satisfaction in being able to help somebody in that way and I guess that’s what being a Consul is all about.”
He has also arranged the renewal of Swedish driver’s licences, provided information for Australians visiting Sweden and attended Swedish national day celebrations in Brisbane.
A highlight was flying to Sweden to meet King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia. “That was special.” Cairns has the only Swedish Consulate outside an Austra- lian capital city. “It’s mostly backpackers who have created the demand. It’s been a unique opportunity in life to interact with people from another country. I’ve loved it.”
The new Honorary Consul for Sweden is Sally Mlikota at 55 Spence St. Ph: 4051 9699.