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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 2009 is another action packed year.
April
Bankstown and Yangcheon Youth Exchange hosted in Yangcheon
Bankstown Council will be collaborating with schools in the local area to identify students who would most benefit from this annual exchange. Students will be home hosted in Yangcheon, Korea for a week during the autumn school holidays. A home stay is the best way to truly see what everyday life is like in another culture. Participating students will visit places of historical and cultural significance as well as primary and high schools.
5 July
National Sister City Day
This annual event is celebrated by councils and shires around Australia and is a time when we reflect on how sister cities both domestic and international bring a positive influence to the local area. This year Council will celebrate National Sister City Day by inviting motivated youth from schools in the area to speak at Council Chambers. The students will present on how sister cities benefit our community and their own unique view of what a sister city means to them. Council will fund the top advocates on the subject as delegates to the National Sister Cities Australia Conference and Youth Camp in Tamworth NSW (19 - 23 July).
19 - 23 July
National Sister Cities Australia Conference and Youth Camp in Tamworth NSW
This year's annual sister city conference will be hosted by Tamworth Regional Council NSW on behalf of Sister Cities Australia. The youth selected on National Sister City day will be funded by Council to visit Tamworth and represent Bankstown at the Youth Camp. The theme for this year's conference is 'Back to Basics' and should be a great experience for our youth to see the sister city movement at the grass roots level.
13 - 21 August
Suita and Yangcheon Youth Exchange hosted by Bankstown
For the first time Bankstown will invite youth from both Suita City and Yangcheon City to visit Bankstown at the same time. The visiting youth will be home stayed with local families and not only will they have a true Aussie experience but they will also be able to share their Korean and Japanese cultures with each other.
3 - 19 October
TAP on Tour
Following on from the success of the TAP on Tour visit to Colorado Springs and Broken Hill, Bankstown's Talent Advancement Program participants are set to once again strut their stuff on the international stage when they visit Suita, Japan. Out TAP stars will perform in Suita for two weeks during the spring school vacation. This is a great opportunity for us to show the world the calibre of home grown talent that we have on offer here in Bankstown.
4 - 12 October
Bankstown and Broken Hill Sporting Exchange hosted by Broken Hill
Young sports men and women from Bankstown will once again pack their bags and head to the outback for the 23rd annual Bankstown and Broken Hill Sporting Exchange. Bankstown hosted the 2008 visit and the host brothers and sisters from that exchange are looking forward to arriving in Broken Hill and catching up with old friends.
November
Mayor of Suita, Councillors and citizens visit Bankstown to celebrate 20th anniversary of sister city relationship
The friendship between Bankstown and Suita, Japan has grown steadily since the sister city signing in 1989 and 2009 will mark the 20th anniversary of our relationship. 20 is considered the coming of age in Japan and to honour the occasion the Mayor of Suita, councillors and representative citizens have accepted an invitation from our Mayor, Clr Tania Mihailuk to visit Bankstown and celebrate the occasion.
Find out how the program has developed from a domestic Sister City of one with Broken Hill into an international network of ‘Sisters’
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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