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Bankstown maintains a special relationship with four other cities
These relationships have been formed to enhance our local area in the fields of sports, education, culture and arts and have been formalised under the banner of Sister Cities.
Every year the Council runs several exciting programs which call on our Sister Cities to help us in various unique ways and 2008 is another action packed year.
28 June - 5 July
Sister City Week
Did you know that 5 July is National Sister City Day? Obviously a day isn't long enough to celebrate such a big program, so Bankstown Council has declared 28 June to 5 July 'Sister City Week'. Council will commemorate the occasion by holding a speech competition, library displays and a DVD give away.
27 – 30 July
Australian Sister City Association Youth Conference
As part of the commemoration of National Sister City Day (5 July), six gifted students will be selected via a speech competition to attend the Australian Sister City and Youth Conference in Gosford. This conference offers the youth delegates a variety of interesting presentations and guest speakers but most importantly there will be many leadership development and networking opportunities.
27 Sept – 3 Oct
Broken Hill - Bankstown Sporting Exchange
In October 150 young sports men and women from Broken Hill will visit Bankstown for the annual Broken Hill – Bankstown sporting exchange. While the event might only last a week, the friendships will last a lifetime.
4 Oct – 13 Oct
Bankstown Youth Visit to Suita, Japan
Following the annual sporting exchange 20 local students will travel to Suita, Japan for an educational and cultural tour of one of Bankstown Council's Asian Sister Cities.
2009
Council is already planning how to make the Sister City Program even bigger and better for 2009. In the works are a student exchange from Yangcheon, Korea to Bankstown in February, a student youth exchange from Suita, Japan to Bankstown in March and a student youth exchange to Yangcheon in April. It will be the 20th anniversary of our relationship with Suita, Japan so celebrations are just on the horizon and of course the Broken Hill - Bankstown Sporting Exchange will be on again, with Broken Hill hosting the 2009 contingent.
Bankstown Council is always looking for innovative new ways to improve the Sister City program. If you have an interesting project or would like to know more, why not get in touch with Council’s Sister City coordinator today? Email Matt Jessop or call 9707 9446. Alternatively you could fill out our online Sister City survey. It will only take a minute but it's a great way to help us fine-tune the program to better serve the local community.
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