Celebrating 30 years with our Japanese Sister City, Ibusuki
What do Pink Floyd's song, "Another Brick in the Wall", George Lucas' classic movie, "Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back" and the Rockhampton Region's Sister City relationship with Ibusuki in Japan all have in common?
They all had their start in 1980 - back when Malcolm Fraser was the Prime Minister of Australia.
How time flies - on 21 November 2010 we celebrated the 30th Anniversary of our Sister City friendship with our Japanese 'relatives' in Ibusuki!
Mayor of Rockhampton Regional Council, Cr Brad Carter said he was delighted to mark the occasion and celebrate the ties and benefits for our Region that continue to develop through our relationship with the people of Ibusuki.
"Friendships like this build trust and respect over the years, which builds economic, business and cultural development opportunities for our community," Cr Carter said.
"There are so many benefits, both intangible and practical, that arise from the relationship we have nurtured with our Sister City.
"There are the really obvious benefits like the beautiful Japanese Gardens that we have all enjoyed for the past 27 years and that were a gift from Ibusuki to the citizens of Rockhampton; and the annual visit by a group of Ibusuki students who homestay with our local families to immerse themselves in our Central Queensland lifestyle and improve their English language skills.
"The students stay and study with local students in Rockhampton who are learning Japanese, and the benefits - to both the Ibusuki students and the Rockhampton students - are fantastic and will be repeated when our students visit Ibusuki," he said.
In a great boost to 2010's 30th Anniversary celebrations, national organisation Sister Cities Australia (SCA) chose the Rockhampton Region as host of the 2010 National Conference and Youth Program.
"We're delighted to have hosted the SCA National Conference, not only because it coincided with our 30th Anniversary celebrations with Ibusuki, but also because of the substantial economic benefits that flowed on throughout our community because of this," Cr Carter said.
Each and every one of us can be a participant in our Sister City relationship with Ibusuki, to help it grow and become even more meaningful for our region.
For information on the annual Sister City Snapshots Photograph Competition - a community photo competition where you provide a snapshot of real life in the Rockhampton Region to share with our Sister City 'relatives' in Ibusuki - click here.
For information on our Sister City, visit the official Ibusuki City website.
If your community organisation, school or club would like to become involved in the Rockhampton Region's Sister City relationship with Ibusuki, or have a great idea for exchange with our Sister City, please email communications@rrc.qld.gov.au or contact Council's Customer Service Centre on 1300 22 55 77.
Rockhampton Regional Council is a member of Sister Cities Australia, which aims to provide a forum for cultural, economic and education interchange between communities and to encourage friendship, co-operation and understanding to improve peaceful coexistence worldwide.