~Photos and Article by Campbelltown City Council~
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the sister city relationship between Campbelltown, NSW and Koshigaya, Saitama, since it was agreed on 4 April, 1984.
From 22-29 August, an official delegation led by Mayor Cr Clinton Mead including the acting General Manager and former mayor visited Koshigaya to celebrate this milestone. On 24 August, they viewed the Minami-Koshigaya Awa dancing festival, which is one of the three largest Awa dancing festivals in Japan, and expressed surprise at the enthusiastic atmosphere of the festival venue and the dancers.
On 26 August, they paid a courtesy visit to the Mayor of Koshigaya, Mr Takahashi and the chairperson of the City Council, Mr Moriya. Afterwards, they visited the Campbelltown Forest of Wild Birds park to plant a 30th anniversary Jacaranda tree and unveil a memorial sign.
Planting Jacaranda Tree
Memorial Sign unveiling
On 27 August, both mayors visited the Australian Embassy in Tokyo to report on the ceremony, as well as the history and friendship raised by exchange programs between their respective cities’ local residents, council staff and teachers.
Late October, a Campbelltown-Koshigaya Sister City Committee delegation will also visit Koshigaya. They have organised a school exchange program in Campbelltown.
In return, an official delegation from Koshigaya led by the city’s Mayor will visit Campbelltown to celebrate their 30th anniversary in early November. They will enjoy the traditional Festival of Fisher’s Ghost, which focuses on ghost folklore in Campbelltown.
