2004 ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS
PERTH AND KAGOSHIMA CELEBRATE 30 YEARS
The City of Perth welcomed a 10 person delegation
from sister city Kagoshima from 27 to 31 May 2004 to celebrate
the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the sister city partnership
between the two cities. The Kagoshima delegation was led by Mayor
of Kagoshima, Mr Yoshinori Akasaki and included representatives
from the City of Kagoshima, Councillors and citizens from the City. |
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Delegation arrival at Council House |
The official program of events included a welcome reception held at
the City of Perth attended by 220 guests including the delegates from
Japan; Councillors and Freeman of the City of Perth; and, members of
Japanese community, cultural and business organisations in Perth. A
special performance was provided by the Perth-based Nadeshiko Choir.
Other events included a performance at Council House by a 50 piece
brass band from Greenwood Senior High School , a school that has had
a long and close association and continuing student exchange program
with the City of Kagoshima , sightseeing in Perth and the planting
of a commemorative tree at the City of Perth 's Council House.
Kagoshima, which is located on the southern island of Kyushu, and
Perth, have in common the same degree of latitude, warm temperate climate,
a close proximity to the sea and many wide green spaces.
The Perth-Kagoshima sister city alliance was promulgated on the 23rd
of April, 1974 when City of Perth Lord Mayor Ernest Lee Steere visited
Kagoshima and signed the sister city declaration along with the then
Mayor of Kagoshima, Mr. Toshio Sueyoshi.
In the three decades since then, through various mutual exchanges,
including official sister city delegation visits and student and sporting
group exchanges, the relationship between the two cities has strengthened
to become one of joint benefit not only for the two sister cities and
their citizens, but for Australia and Japan also.
In 2002, about 49,000 Japanese tourists visited Western Australia
and over 1350 students study here each year. There are 3,200 Japanese
residents in Western Australia , mainly in Perth but also in Broome
where Japanese divers played such an important role in the development
of the pearl trade.
There is also the annual Youthwing Homestay Exchange Program that
has seen hundreds of young people from both Kagoshima and Perth gain
insight into the lifestyles of people from their sister city. It is
these types of grass roots level exchanges that form the building blocks
of a successful official exchange relationship.
A confirmation document was presented to the Mayor of Kagoshima, Mr
Yoshinori Akasaki, from the Lord Mayor of the City of Perth , Dr Peter
Nattrass, reaffirming the sister city alliance between the two cities
and expressing the desire that the partnership continues to grow in
strength and vitality.
Article submitted by Perth City
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Commemorative Plaque
of 30th Anniversary
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