Kumatori Sister-City extends invitation to whole community
Published on 13 February 2015
Up to ten Mildura Rural City Council residents will be able to take advantage of an invitation from Mildura’s sister-city Kumatori in Japan to join this year’s cultural exchange delegation.
Council is currently seeking expressions of interest from community members who want to join the expanded delegation which will head to Kumatori on 7 October for ten days. This year the delegation will be made up of two Councillors, a student-teacher group from Chaffey Secondary College and a contingent of residents.
Mayor Glenn Milne said this is an amazing and generous offer by the Kumatori Town Office who will bear the cost of all the tours and experiences on the official itinerary.
“If you’ve ever wanted to visit Japan, then this is a fantastic chance to do so,” Cr Milne said. “You’ll engage in a wide variety of cultural experiences and see the educational and economic opportunities this great relationship brings to our community.
“The residents’ part of this tour is about introducing more people to the wonderful region surrounding Kumatori and the people who make this part of the world so special.”
While the Kumatori Town Office will cover the official itinerary costs, residents will need to organise their own travel arrangements, including all costs associated with airfares, insurance, accommodation and meals.
“The itinerary for the visit hasn’t been completely finalised yet but it will include a range of cultural and sightseeing experiences, including the opportunity to witness the famous Danjiri Festival,” said Cr Milne.
“We’ve also factored in some free time so you can go exploring or just take some time out. These tours are amazing but they are also very busy, so it’s important anyone considering joining the tour is fit to travel and ready for a jam packed 10 days.”
Council entered into a formal sister city relationship with Kumatori in 2001, with educational, cultural, industrial and sporting exchanges being the basis of the relationship. Since 2001, there have been reciprocal visits between Mildura and Kumatori with the last visit to Kumatori being in 2013.
More information about the resident’s component of the tour is available online at http://www.mildura.vic.gov.au/About-Council/Sister-Cities or by contacting Sharon Yantses on (03) 5018 8100. Expressions of Interest are open now and while the EoI will remain open until 5pm on Friday 27 March 2015, Cr Milne said people should get their applications in as soon as possible.
“Basically we’re looking at this on a first-come, first-served basis,” Cr Milne explained.
For information about Kumatori, including its geographical size, population, local industry, and tourist attractions including the Danjiri Festival, visit www.kumatori-kankou.com.
ENDS
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Angela Umback
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