Representatives of our Japanese Sister city, Ohkuma, were to town on Monday 24 March as their ‘Wings of Hope’ Australia Tour makes its way to Bathurst.
Ohkuma and Bathurst have been in an international sister city arrangement since 1991, making this year’s tour their 34th visit to our region.
Many Japanese delegates have travelled to Bathurst since 1991, and Mayor Cr Robert Taylor remarked on the strength of our two cities’ longstanding relationship.
“It was all the way back in December of 1989 when a delegation from the town of Ohkuma in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, visited Australia looking for a suitable regional city with which to form a partnership. They found such a city here, with Bathurst, and in 1991 an official Sister City Agreement was signed between Bathurst’s then Mayor, Cr Ann Ashwood, and Mayor Shuro Shiga.
“Since 1991, the relationship between our two regions has become deeper and closer. Many delegations and student cohorts have travelled between our towns in a fantastic cultural exchange over the years,” he noted.
This year’s tour includes 6 students and 6 adults. An official mayoral welcome for the delegates will be held on Monday 24 March at Council Chambers, with the invitation extended to local media. At the Welcome Ceremony, special recognition will be given to Mrs. Fudeko Reekie for her significant contribution to the Ohkuma Sister City relationship.
