Frankston Susono Friendship Association
Bulletin No. 13
March 2020
Dear Members and Friends of
FSFA,
Welcome to our old friends and
new found friends to the FSFA monthly bulletin. It is a snapshot of our
happenings and interesting things about Japan.
Don’t forget you are most
welcome to attend our monthly FSFA Executive Committee meetings.
They are held at 6.30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of the month. Location is the
Acacia Room in the Frankston Council Offices. Enter off Young Street. Our next
meeting will be held on 7 April 2020.
Proclamation Anniversary
Function
On Sunday 23 February members
of the Executive Committee and Friends of FSFA gathered in the Japanese
Garden at Frankston High School to celebrate the 38th anniversary
of our sister city relationship with Susono.
 |
| Simon Hast, Julie D'Arcy, Mayor Mayer, Noel Ferguson and Peter Patterson |
FSFA Life Memberships
At our recent Proclamation
Anniversary celebration, the Association was thrilled to award Life Membership
to 3 of our long-serving members. FSFA Life Membership is awarded for long
service and recognises a significant contribution to the sister city
relationship and to the Frankston Susono Friendship Association. There had been
9 awarded in the first 37 years of the Association.
Life Membership was awarded to
our recently retired Chairperson Peter Patterson, his wife Margaret, and our
longest serving member of the Executive and current Treasurer Bev Hannan.
 |
| Life members Peter Patterson, Margaret Patterson and Bev Hannan pictured with Mayor Mayer and FSFA Chairperson Julie D'Arcy |
Sumo Tournament to
Proceed Without Spectators!
In response to the novel
coronavirus which has been dominating the news cycle, the Japan Sumo
Association who are the organisers of the March Tournament to be held in Osaka,
have decided to proceed with the tournament BUT without spectators! This
has not happened since the summer tournament of 1945, during World War II.
This follows the closure of
facilities such as Disneyland and Disney Sea, the suspension of the J-League
soccer competition, as well as all Japanese schools for the month of March!
The tournament in Osaka will
start on Sunday 8 March – International Women’s Day. You can follow every
tournament’s matches, results, awards and other information by using this link:
Emperor Naruhito’s 60th
Birthday Function
Emperor Naruhito celebrated
his 60th birthday on 23rd February but local celebrations
took place at the residence of Japan’s
Consul-General Kazuyoshi Matsunaga on Thursday 13th. FSFA Vice-Chairperson Simon Hast and Executive Committee member Therese
Sakamoto represented FSFA at this function and attended with Frankston Mayor
Sandra Mayer and Deputy Mayor Colin Hampton.
 |
| Therese Sakamoto, Mayor Sandra Mayer, Consul-General Matsunaga and wife Yoko, Deputy Mayor Colin Hampton and Simon Hast |
Japanese National Tourism
Organisation
This is not the first time the
JNTO has been mentioned in our monthly bulletin, and for a very good reason.
Their monthly Newsletter always contains great information and travel tips if
you are planning a Japanese holiday. The latest edition has the ‘Ultimate Beginners
Guide to Japan’ and I recommend you have a look at the article by clicking HERE.
Box Hill Japan Festival
Our Association will once
again be involved in the Box
Hill Japan Festival on Sunday 17th May 2020 by having a
booth in the Main Hall. We enjoyed a great day at last year’s Festival meeting
people, signing up new FSFA members, and distributing FSFA information plus our
2020 Japanese Festival flyers. We were also able to catch up with many of our
regular stall holders, food vendors and performers plus meet with some new and
exciting performers we hope to see at our own Japanese Festival on Sunday 29
November to be held on the Senior Campus at Frankston High School!
Tastepoint Fundraising Event
On Wednesday 20th
May we are holding a Tastepoint Fundraiser at Frankston High School. We are
looking to ‘recruit’ 60+ people to come to our meat tasting night for just an
hour to help us raise funds. There is no cost involved and you get to eat
delicious meat for FREE! Three timeslots are available – 5 p.m., 6 p.m.
and 7 p.m. Please email if
you are able join us and help out!
Keeping in Contact
https://www.facebook.com/frankstonsusono/ will
help you stay connected to what FSFA is up to.
Upcoming Events
Event/Activity
|
Venue
|
Scheduled Date
|
FSFA Executive Committee Meetings
|
Frankston Council Chambers
|
First Tuesday each month @ 6.30 p.m.
|
Box Hill Japan Festival
|
Box Hill Town Hall,
1022 Whitehorse Road
|
Sunday 17th May 2020
|
Tastepoint Fundraiser
|
Frankston High School Senior Campus
|
Wednesday 20th May 2020
|
2020 FSFA Annual General Meeting
|
Frankston Council Chambers
|
1st September 2020
|
2020 Japanese Speech Contest
|
Monash University, Frankston Campus
|
4th September 2020
|
2020 Japanese Garden Hanami Party
|
Japanese Garden Frankston High School
|
18th October 2020
|
2020 Susono Delegation Visit
|
Various venues in Frankston
|
Thursday 26th to Monday 30th
November
|
FSFA Japanese Festival
|
Frankston High School Senior Campus
|
Sunday 29th November 2020
|
Frankston Delegation to Susono
|
Susono, Shizuoka, Japan
|
October 2021 – Dates to be confirmed
|
Feedback
We welcome your thoughts on
the bulletin and things we could include, etc. We all share a passion for Japan
and its culture and traditions. This is one way we are using to share and
spread the love.
Thank You and we look forward
to keeping in touch!
Simon
Hast
On
behalf of the Frankston Susono Friendship Association
