By Emily-Rose Toohey
The Mayor of Stanthorpe’s sister town Shiwa reached out to council last month, upholding a decades long relationship between the two apple growing regions.
Shiwa is a town in Japan and Southern Downs Regional Council (SDRC) Mayor Vic Pennisi said that correspondence started in the early 2000s, before his time in council.
“Shiwa is an apple growing region in Japan and some students came to the Stanthorpe high school and a sister city agreement was signed.
“The Mayor at the time went to Shiwa to sign the agreement and Shiwa’s Mayor came to Stanthorpe to do the same thing,” Cr Pennisi said.
“There’s a student exchange that has also happened – currently stopped due to Covid-19 – and although the expected economic benefits of the relationship haven’t come to fruition, it’s a cultural and educational experience for the kids involved.”
Shiwa’s Mayor Izumi Kumagai wrote a letter to council on 9 March this year, which was presented and endorsed at the 13 April council meeting.
“I would like to inform you that I started my third term of Shiwa on February 8 – the mayoral election was held in January and many of the townspeople cast votes of confidence in me,” Cr Kumagai wrote.
The Mayor said they believe the people of Shiwa are the town’s biggest asset and hopes to work with them to further create a community.
“As part of this vision, it is also my hope that we can help further deepen the friendship between Shiwa and Southern Downs so that it can last for years to come,” Cr Kumagai wrote.
“It is unfortunate that the homestay program has been paused due to the current circumstances.
“We don’t know when it will resume, but I would like to keep in touch even through video calls – we also look forward to resuming the program soon.”
Cr Cynthia McDonald said that this student exchange program is an excellent initiative.
“I’ll be really happy to see this re-instated for the youth of our region,” Cr McDonald said.
“When our international borders open up, I hope our youth can experience other cultures – not only students in Stanthorpe, but those in Warwick as well.”
Cr Pennisi agreed with Cr McDonald’s sentiments and said he would respond to the Shiwa Mayor positively.
Cr Kumagai said that they hope this friendship between Southern Downs and Shiwa will grow beyond cultural and educational exchanges.
“We wish it to include industrial and economic ones in the future as well,” Cr Kumagai said.
