Since 1984, Campbelltown and Koshigaya have maintained a strong and active sister city relationship. Except during the COVID-19 pandemic, at least one, sometimes 2, student delegations have travelled between the two cities each year.
During COVID-19, the student exchanges moved online, allowing students from Campbelltown and Koshigaya to meet virtually, discuss and ask questions about common areas of interest.
Delegation visits of Sister City Association members from both cities have been organised every few years to bring the two Sister City Associations and their councils together.
Outbound students
Each year, around April, the Campbelltown- Koshigaya Sister Cities Association (www.cksca.org.au) promotes its annual student delegation trip to all 16 high schools in the local government area. The Association seeks applications from students aged 14 to 18 who wish to travel to Japan during the September school holidays.
Fifteen students are selected following the interview process. President Terry Crotty explained that the Association receives 40 or more applications each year, which means “we have the unfortunate task of telling many students that they haven’t been selected. However, we encourage all unsuccessful applicants to reapply in the following year. In many years, up to 6 students are selected from those who were unsuccessful previously. That year of personal growth really shows through at the interview”.
Two adult leaders are also selected to accompany and guide the group throughout the trip.
The selected students and their parents or guardians attend their first group session, a parent information evening, where they meet other students in the delegation. They receive details about the trip, including costs, schedule and host family accommodation, and have the opportunity to ask any questions about both the preparation and the trip itself.
The group then comes together for orientation sessions, held over 8 Friday evenings. These sessions help students to bond, learn basic conversational Japanese, and understand what to expect on the trip. They also gain insights into Japanese customs and etiquette, practice using chopsticks and develop and rehearse a performance to be presented several times during their visit to Japan.
Prior to their departure, the student delegation attends a civic reception to see them off. At the event, the students receive words of encouragement from the mayor and representatives of the Campbelltown-Koshigaya Sister Cities Association, and also present the performance they will deliver during their time in Japan.
The performance showcases distinctly Australian elements such as Australian football, meat pies, kangaroos, Holden cars, as well as Australian songs such as ‘Waltzing Matilda’. The show also highlights Australia’s rich ethnic diversity and multicultural coexistence, reflected not only in its themes but also in the students who embody that diversity on stage.
Upon arrival in Japan, the delegation is welcomed to Koshigaya at an official ceremony. The students visit sights in and around Koshigaya, including local schools, take day trips to Nikko and Tokyo Disneyland, as well as an overnight trip to the Hakone / Mt Fuji area.
Online learning
The Association offers online training resources to support the group’s preparation. Students study the content and complete assessments at the end of each module. Modules include learning about Koshigaya City, Japanese culture, language and etiquette, including shoe removal, the use of chopsticks and bathing practices. If you require any further information about these resources, please email secretary@cksca.org.au.
During the trip, parents and friends can see photos each day on a dedicated Facebook site set up for each delegation.
When the group returns to Campbelltown after their 12-day visit to Japan, they reflect on their experiences at a storytelling evening soon after their return.
Inbound students from Koshigaya
Each year, around the end of July, a group of 15 students and 2 leaders arrive from Koshigaya for a 10-day stay in Campbelltown. Host families accommodate each student and leader. The program includes an overnight stay in Canberra, as well as day trips to Manly, Bondi, the Blue Mountains, and various attractions around the Campbelltown and Macarthur region. Of course, there is also plenty of time for the students to go shopping.
Each day, the host families bring their students to the meeting point at around 8 am. The group then boards the bus for a fun-filled day. Around 6 pm, the host families collect their student and provide dinner and evening activities.
Annual awards for students studying Japanese
Each year, in early December, the Association holds an event to recognise the achievements of students studying Japanese at 7 high schools in the Campbelltown local government area.
Award recipients not only demonstrate strong academic results but also engage in broader extra-curricular activities to deepen their understanding of Japanese language and culture.
Awards are presented to students in Years 8 and 9, and to students in Year 11. School principals and language coordinators attend to explain why each student has received their award.
Family and friends of the award recipients also attend to share the celebration.
40th anniversary
In 2024, the Sister City relationship between Campbelltown and Koshigaya celebrated its 40th anniversary.
Council and Association representatives visited each city to mark the milestone and reaffirm their commitment to continuing the long-standing and successful relationship.
Campbelltown welcomed the anniversary delegations to Koshigaya Park, named 40 years ago at the beginning of the Sister City relationship. The group also held an event at the Campbelltown Arts Centre Japanese Garden, which houses an authentic tea house, gifted by Koshigaya City.
Similarly, Campbelltown delegations were welcomed at Campbelltown Park in Koshigaya.
To commemorate 40 years of the Sister City relationship, a special logo was designed for the anniversary.
Conclusion
President Terry Crotty said the long-standing success of the relationship with Koshigaya has been the result of the strong support of the councils in Campbelltown and Koshigaya, as well as the dedication of Association members in both cities who generously volunteer their time.
For more information about any aspect of the Campbelltown-Koshigaya Sister City relationship, please email secretary@cksca.org.au
The visit provided an opportunity to reflect on three decades of connection between Saiki and Gladstone, while also strengthening the relationship for future generations.
My name is Dashiel Baker. I’m a second-year Arts student at UNSW studying Politics & International Relations and Japanese. I’ve been self-studying Japanese for about six years now, on and off, and that study led me to CLAIR. I recently completed an internship at CLAIR Sydney through my university’s Work Integrated Learning (WIL) program, and so I thought it would be useful to briefly document my experience.
