THE Mitchell Honbetsu Sister City Association welcomed 26 Japanese guests to Australia for a whirlwind trip across four nights, where local host families took them under their wing.
After flying all night, they arrived bright and early at Tullamarine International Airport and were then taken straight to Wallan Secondary College.
They were met warmly by the local students and staff, and quickly understood the English class and the competitive games that were being played, by teams led by the local students. A morning tea which included a vegemite tasting was embraced.
After being introduced to Australian Rules football and goalkicking out on the oval, it was great to see both local and Japanese students communicating in their own way and friendships being established.
Reluctantly leaving their new friends behind, the four adults led by Rima Masuda, and the 22 students then walked to Open House Wallan for lunch. They then went on to Broadford Historical Society, where they were given a tour through six of the old buildings there and a history lesson. Old fashioned class time was also experienced as the school house was set up as a classroom for history week.
The next stop was Wandong, for a catered late afternoon tea and a welcome party, where there is some formality with various speeches and presentations by the Chairperson Chris Garrett while Cr Riley Evans, Jenni Masters of the Bendigo Bank and the Consul General of Japan Mr Jun Imanishi gave warm welcoming speeches. After hearing a beautiful song sung by our delegates, they were introduced to their host families and departed for further experiences that night and over the weekend. Our local families opened their hearts and their homes and made sure their guests were well taken care of and to experience Australian lifestyle.
On Monday morning, the Visual Arts Community Inc. hosted a two hour painting experience in Wallan. The students each decorated a canvas tote bag with Australian animals for inspiration, and there was some beautiful artwork created.
The students then visited Broadford Secondary College, where again new friends were made. A brief tour of the school, a canteen lunch with other students and some time in the year seven Japanese class, where our local students were so excited to meet Japanese students who are learning English.
It was then off to the Council chambers, to meet the Mayor John Dougall and councillors, as this is a Council to Council sister city relationship, that was signed originally in September 1991, and so marks the 35th anniversary of one of the most active sister city groups in Victoria.
To complete their busy stay here, a traditional Aussie barbecue for all host families was prepared by the Wandong and Heathcote Junction Community Group on the Monday evening, along with ice creams from the Wallan ice cream van. A perfect evening for the everyone mixing and enjoying new friendships, the younger ones playing a variety of sports outside made the farewell party memorable. Again, the Japanese students after making their farewell speeches had everyone join in with a special song called Azure.
The delegation departed early Tuesday morning amongst many tears and hugs for Sydney, where they were to enjoy some of the main Sydney sights, and then onto an overnight flight back to Tokyo. From there they make their way back up to the Hokkaido island and back to the small rural town of Honbetsu.