During our March FSFA Committee meeting held on Tuesday evening we welcomed a special guest - Frankston Mayor Councillor Kris Bolam JP. Members of the committee briefed the Mayor on a range of topics related to our plans for a very busy 2025. These included the SOFA and Susono Schools delegation visits from our sister city in late July/early August; our Japanese Festival to be held on Sunday 3rd August; our Japanese Speech Contest in early September; the annual Hanami Party in the Japanese Garden at Frankston High School during late October; the short-term student exchange program and online communication and student activities between the sister cities; Derinya Primary School's participation in this year's World Expo in Osaka planned for October; and the growing popularity of our Frankston Taiko Drumming Group taking Japanese music and culture to the wider Frankston community and promoting our vibrant sister city relationship!
A young Mayor Bolam led our 2011 Frankston Delegation to Susono, narrated our group's stage performance of 'The Waterhole' at the Australian Fair and participated in Susono City's 40th Anniversary Ceremony. Since that time he has been a strong supporter and advocate for the sister city relationship. At the opening of the Susono Tribute Garden in Susono Way outside the Frankston Private Hospital the Mayor spoke fondly of his experiences during that delegation visit and referred to the sister city relationship with Susono as "the jewel in Frankston's crown".
Mayor Bolam expressed a strong desire to support and be involved in this year's delegation visit and Japanese Festival as well as thanking the (voluntary) members of the FSFA committee for their hard work in promoting Frankston's sister city relationship with Susono for over 43 years!
At the conclusion of the briefing Mayor Bolam joined committee members (including those via Teams online, with Chairperson Julie D'Arcy and Yoshio Noda in Susono) for a group photo.
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| Mayor Kris Bolam, FSFA Committee & Guests |
