Thank
you to my fellow Executive members for their efforts this past year. We also
have a wider circle of friends who we call upon when the need arises. We
appreciate their assistance also.
Chris
Hodgins continues to make a champion effort and we all thank her for the work
she does on our behalf. She represented us at a number of sister city forums
and at the Pines Pride day in March this year.
Some
of us have been involved in this Sister City thing for many years. No one has
been longer involved than Des Dean. Over 25 years of service in a variety of
roles including Student Exchange and the Japanese Speech Contest. This year in
honour of his work, we made Des a life member. Thank you Des for the
magnificent work with this Association.
The
highlight of the year was our delegation visit to Susono in October/November
last year to participate in the Australian Fair on November 1st. The
delegation was led by Frankston Mayor Colin Hampton and CEO George Modrich.
Also part of the delegation were myself, Sue Modrich, Margaret Patterson, Rose
Conboy, Bev Hanna, Vic Webster, Terri Carroll, Sorin Ionascu, Mirella Ionascu,
Jamie Feldman, Rebecca Feldman, Gerhard Hannemann, Jessica Vitkovic and Matthew
Clayton. We appreciate the support of the Frankston Council and the local
business community in participating in the delegation. Newcomers were given an
introduction to Japanese Culture in Tokyo before we visited Susono.
Once
again the good folk of Susono excelled in their hospitality and friendship.
Everyone made an outstanding contribution to the visit especially Matthew with
his singing talents.
A
special event at the Australian Fair was a live Skype link between Bell City
Susono and the Frankston library in Frankston. 2 hours of joy as friends in
Frankston and Susono exchanged greetings. The event was later to be the subject
of a Sister Cities Australia award application.
We
began the year by participating in a Japanese sister city workshop run by Ross
Mouer from Monash University. An interesting and optimistic event that brought
together all cities in Victoria that had a Japanese sister city. We learned
lots and shared lots and came away hopeful of continuing the links. That
initial enthusiasm has diminished unfortunately. Well done to Ross and his
colleague Jun from Japan for getting us together and their interest in the
Japanese sister cities.
In
keeping with family tradition, Kirsten Hood spent several months in Susono at
the end of 2009 on a short term visit. Her confident and informative report on
her return in February this year told of a rewarding and marvellous time in
Japan. Thanks to all those who looked after Kirsten while in Susono. Thanks to
the Hood/Menting family for their involvement in our activities.
In
our ongoing quest to increase the knowledge of our Executive, Jamie Feldman and
Chris Hodgins attended the Sister Cities Australia Conference this year in
Rockhampton Queensland. We missed out on an award but we got a terrific written
report back from Chris Hodgins on the Conference.
Jamie
is working on our new website and finalising some DVDs of our trip last year.
We hope both will be completed shortly.
We
continue to have a display at the Frankston Waterfront Festival each year. Sometimes
small and sometimes big depending on the help we get and whether there is a
delegation visiting. This year was a little smaller but a great way to promote
our activities to the people of Frankston. A heavy downpour on the Sunday did
not dampen our spirits.
Early
this year we presented a Business Plan to the Council to detail our plans for
the next two years. In February 2012 we celebrate 30 years as sister cities.
There are things planned for the next 2 years both here and in Susono. These
include:
·
A
delegation visit to Susono on October 2011 and to Frankston in February 2012.
·
A
Japanese Festival in Frankston in 2012.
·
A
digital history to be released next year.
We
are reconnecting with the many people who we have touched over the past 28
years. We have emailed and written to their last known address. The search will
continue. We will publish a regular newsletter on our activities and events to
keep everyone engaged.
At
the end of September the Mayor is holding a series of cultural days in Wells
Street. One of these will a Japanese day and plan a number of activities to
celebrate the Japanese Culture including Taiko and crafts.
Plans
are well advanced for our Japanese Speech Contest to be held a few months. It’s
an opportunity for local students to display their Japanese Language talents.
FSFA
is facilitating the establishment of several sister school relationships
between Primary Schools in Frankston and Primary schools in Susono. We are
looking at least 3 local schools participating. Overport Primary already a
sister school in Susono.
The
idea of a public Japanese Garden has been discussed on a number of occasions.
We have an excellent Japanese style garden at the Frankston High School that we
held our November meeting at last year. It is well maintained by the Frankston
High School. We understand that Frankston Council are considering a Japanese
Garden in the vicinity of the Council Offices. George Pentland Gardens or
Beauty Park would also be excellent sites for the garden.
I
thank you all for your attendance tonight and thank you again to all the
Executive members. The next 2 years will be very exciting.
