From Thursday 22 to Saturday 24 June, delegation from Yamatotakada City, Nara Prefecture, visited Lismore City, New South Wales. These cities were the very first established sister city relationship between Australia and Japan, and the purpose of the visit was to resume face-to-face exchanges that had been suspended due to COVID-19.
During the visit, the delegation visited various places in Lismore City including Southern Cross University, and shared their visions about exchange matters with the Mayor and executives of the local government of Lismore. On Saturday the 24th, they took part in the Lismore Lantern Parade, a major event in Lismore, together with Miku-chan, a mascot character of Yamatotakada, and received warm cheers and applause from the many spectators who filled the streets along the route of parade.
The Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Lismore also explained the seriousness of the damage caused by last year’s flooding in Lismore and the state of reconstruction, while taking the delegation to the site.
More than a year has passed since the flooding, and although many restaurants, café, and other shops in the city have reopened for business, many houses have not yet been fully restored, and it appears that recovery will take more time. Considering these events, the resumption of initiatives such as sending off students to each city on a face-to-face basis is a positive development for exchanges between the two cities.
CLAIR Sydney will continue to support many sister city exchanges like Yamatotakada City and Lismore City to become active again after the pandemic.
*We provided support activities for Yamatotakada City by accompanying to the events such as visit to the council and the parade.
