2008

The 2008 AMC

The 2008 AMC, the 31st AMC, was held on Thursday 31 July. A record number of schools participated. We thank schools from around Australia and countries in the Asia Pacific region for their continued support of this event which dates back to 1978 and continues to be the major mathematics school enrichment event in the region. It is also the first part of a further enrichment and problem solving program. In Australia it is also the basis of the program for training for the International Mathematical Olympiad.

This competition tests everything through from basic numeracy skills through to advanced problem solving, and this is the first year we have awarded a Proficiency Certificate for students reaching a pre-set standard in both skills and problem solving, using their skills in the world around them.

In 2007 the AMC yielded six perfect scores in the secondary section, four in Australia and one each in Singapore and Hong Kong. This year there are also six perfect scores in the secondary section, five in Singapore and one in China. There is also a perfect score in the primary section, in Malaysia.

Since 2004 the event has also been held for students in primary schools. Medals are not issued for primary students but perfect scores (Peter O'Halloran Certificates) are acknowledged and one was achieved and is listed below.

The list of medallists is given below. A wide range of countries is represented, reflecting the increasing internationalisation of the AMC. Countries not normally present but represented in this year's list include China, India, Indonesia and Thailand.

Those from Australia were presented at the University of Western Australia, Perth, on Monday 10 November, by the Governor of Western Australia, The Hon Dr Ken Michael AC.

The Hon Dr Ken Ken Michael (front), AMT Board Chairman Mr Greg Taylor and Executive Director Professor Peter Taylor with the medallists in Perth after the ceremony.

Of the national medallists four Melbourne medallists were unable to receive their medal in Perth. Arrangements were made for these four medallists to be separately presented on Monday 17 April by Professor Peter Taylor at the Brunswick Town Hall, where special guest was Councillor Alice Pryor. Three of these attended and are shown below from left Andrew Elvey Price, Aaron Chong and Shen Hao, with AMC Victorian Director Bruce Henry and AMT Executive Director Peter Taylor.

Philippines

Philippine medals were presented in Manila on 15 October at the Manila Grand Opera Hotel. They were presented by Philippine Secretary for the Department of Science and Technology, Dr Estrella Alabastro, Australian Ambassador to the Philippines the Hon Rod Smith, Professor Taylor and Dr Simon L Chua, President of the Mathematics Trainers Guild of the Philippines and Philippine National AMC Director.

Shown are from left Dann Julius Chan, Carmela Antoinette Lao, Henry Jefferson Morco and Jose Enrico Leceta. Behind are Dr Chua, Dr Alabastro, Professor Taylor, The Hon Rod Smith, Dr Filma G Brauner from the Philippine Science High School and Mrs Lilia Musni Lauron, representing Science Education Institute of the Department of Science and Technology.

Singapore

Singapore Medals were presented at a function at the Novotel Hotel, Clarke Quay, Singapore, on Thursday 23 October, by Mr John Newman, Australian Consul General. Ms Susan Chang of sponsors Westpac Asia was also present.

Pictured after the ceremony are the medallists, from left Vincent Brian Arifin Tjeng, Wan Moquan, Tng Jia Hao Barry, Wu Biao, Long Xueping, Ryan Kor and Zhang Aidi with Mr Newman and Ms Chang.

Malaysia

Malaysian medals were presented at a national function in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday 26 October at the New Era College, Kajang. They were presented by Australian Deputy High Commissioner to Malaysia, the Hon. Craig Chittick. Also present was Mr Yogan Rasanayakam, General Manager of Westpac Asia.

Pictured with Peter Taylor after the function are (left) Muhammad Aqil Bin Kamarudin and Tham Ying Hong.

New Zealand

New Zealand Medals were presented in Christchurch on Thursday 30 October in the Erskine (Mathematics) Building at the University of Canterbury by University Assistant Vice Chancellor Steve Weaver.

Pictured after the ceremony Professor Weaver, Alex Kendall, Da Wang, David Liu, Jefferson Wong, Professor Taylor.

China

The Chinese medal was presented by Peter Taylor at the Suzhou Lida School in Suzhou, on Friday 06 March 2009.

Peter Taylor is pictured with Xu Yejia during the presentation.

Taiwan

All five medals were presented in different presentations at schools in Taiwan on 10, 11, 12 and 13 March 2009. The most interesting was to the grandfather of medallist Chang Yu Cheng in Yuan Lin on 11 March because the boy was writing an exam at the same time.

Hong Kong

The Hong Kong medals were all presented at a function at the Novotel Century Hotel on Monday 16 March 2009.

From left Chan Kelvin Kiu Wai, Chung Hil Fung Harry, Au Lawrence, Law Wai Hon and Li Hiu Chung, while in front row are Mr Ng Chung Chun, Chairman of the Hong Kong Association for Science and Mathematics Education, Peter Taylor, and Mr Lee Pak Leung, Chief Curriculum Development Officer of Mathematics Section, Hong Kong Education Bureau.

Indonesia

Peter Taylor presents to Fr. A Eko Budi Santoso S.J., Principal of Canisus College, Jakarta, on Wednesday 18 March 2009, the medal won by student Wilson Kurniawan. Wilson moved to Singapore on scholarship after winning the medal and could not attend.