On 11 November, Mr MATSUO Kazuhiko, Mayor of Sannohe Town in Aomori Prefecture and town representatives visited their sister city, Tamworth in New South Wales. This year marks the 130th anniversary since the establishment of Sannohe as a municipality, and the town endeavours to create an engaging community through international exchange by promoting their sister city relationship with Tamworth.
Mayor Matsuo and the Sannohe delegation attended a council meeting in Tamworth and they listened attentively to the discussion on the topic of drought, a current and significant issue for Tamworth. After the council meeting, Mayor Matsuo held discussions and strengthened his ties with Cr Col Murray, Mayor of Tamworth, and other councillors and executive staff of the Tamworth Regional Council.
Before the establishment of the sister city relationship between Tamworth and Sannohe in 2001, the Rotary Clubs in the two cities had been conducting exchange for more than 30 years. Mr Matsuo and the delegation attended the meeting held by the Tamworth Rotary Club and were welcomed by many Club members. Students from Sannohe Junior High School were also in Tamworth for a school exchange program at the same time, and the Sannohe delegation observed the interactions between the students of Tamworth High School and Sannohe.
A staff member of CLAIR Sydney, who is also from Aomori Prefecture, accompanied the delegation from Sannohe in Tamworth and observed firsthand the sister city exchange between the two cities.
CLAIR Sydney will continue to support sister city exchange activities conducted between Tamworth and Sannohe.
