Issue 2, Autumn 2006 [ PDF 442 KB] - ACT Government

Canberra - Nara
Shimbun
SHIMBUN — NEWSLETTER OF THE CANBERRA NARA SISTER CITIES ISSUE 2, AUTUMN 2006
Nara’s Tezukayama and Canberra’s St Monica’s become Sister Schools
To mark the 2006 Year of Exchange, 22 students from Tezukayama primary school visited
Canberra. In March this year the group was hosted by St Monica’s Primary School. Committee
member Mike Hodgkin, and his wife Anne Hodgkin, who is the Japanese teacher at St
Monica’s, have been in touch with Tezukayama for many years. The signing of a Sister School
agreement between the two schools was
one of the highlights of the visit which also
included a warm reception from Chief
Minister Jon Stanhope and the planting of a
tree at Nara Grove.
President’s note
Acknowledgement of John Agnew OAM
Together Department of Education and
Training Chief Executive Michele Bruniges,
and Tezukayama Primary School Principal
Shunichi Hori, plant a eucalypt at Nara Grove
to celebrate the signing of a Sister School
agreement between St Monica’s Primary
School and Nara’s Tezukayama Primary School
in March 2006.
The following ACT Government schools have established Sister School relationships with
schools in Nara:
• Gordon Primary - Tokiwa Kindergarten
www.gordonps.act.edu.au
• Ainslie Primary - Tsubai Primary
www.ainslieps.act.edu.au
• Telopea Park - Heijo Higashi High
www.Telopea.act.edu.au
• Calwell High - Heijo/Nishi
www.calwellhs.act.edu.au
• Campbell Primary - Tomio Minami Primary www.campbellps.act.edu.au
• Campbell High - Chouku High
www.campbellhs.act.edu.au
• Forrest Primary - Meiiji Primary
www.forrestps.act.edu.au
• Kambah High - Takamodo High
www.kambahhs.act.edu.au
• Farrer Primary - Seibi Primary
www.farrerps.act.edu.au
• Stromlo High - Ichijo Junior High
www.stromlohs.act.edu.au
The Canberra-Nara Sister
City Committee was formed
to continue the process
of facilitating contact and
friendship in all areas,
suggesting and initiating
new projects and advising
the ACT Government on
ways to effectively support
contacts between the two
communities.
The Canberra community
can play a part through
the ‘Friends of Nara’, open
to every person interested
in promoting international
friendship through the
Canberra-Nara Sister City
program.
John died on Wednesday 29 March 2006, after an
energetic and spirited battle with cancer. The funeral
took place on Saturday 1 April 2006 at the Mitchell
Crematorium. John’s wife Naida Blackley, formerly the
music teacher at Stromlo High and has replaced John as the
Acting Principal of the ACT Government’s Instrumental Music
program.
On behalf of the Sister City Committee, I extend my deepest
sympathy to Naida, Elizabeth, Brendon and David.
Terry Newman
John Agnew OAM
Canberra Nara Sister Cities
GPO Box 158
Canberra ACT 2601
Australia
Tel: 61 2 6207 5378
Fax: 61 2 6205 1573
canberranara.sistercity@act.gov.au
www.cmd.act.gov.au/nara_sister_city
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Canberra - Nara Shimbun
News from Nara
Year of Exchange Officer, Rani Austin and Canberra Museum and Gallery
Curator Emma Epstein travelled to Nara 21 - 28 May in preparation for 2006
Year of Exchange events. The ACT Government will exhibit a selection of its
world-class Studio One print collection at the Nara City Museum of Art 6 - 17
September 2006. This exhibition will also showcase Canberra and the Sister
City relationship with Nara.
Visits to three Nara schools further consolidated educational ties with Nara
and helped to progress plans for the visit of 42 students from Nara University
High School for the Canberra Nara Candle Festival in October. Students will
be hosted by Dickson College, Copland College, Lake Ginninderra College,
Campell High School and Kaleen High School.
Gifts were exchanged and certificates of appreciation were presented to those
who contributed to the 2005 Candle Festival. Rani and Emma met briefly with
Mayor Fujiwara, representatives of the Nara Japan-Australia Society and Kyotobased
Canberra artist Jorg Schmeisser.
Photo courtesy of Eventpix
Canberra Nara Candle Festival
On Saturday 21 October thousands
of candles will be lit as part of a
celebration of Japanese and Australian
culture. An annual event held at
sunset in Canberra Nara Park (Lennox
Gardens), the Candle Festival also
offers an entertaining program of
cultural activities, demonstrations and
performances.
If you are keen to be involved in the Festival as a
volunteer, concession holder or participant, please visit
www.events.act.gov.au
What’s on
ANU Kabuki 2006
Street Theatre, Australia National University,
Canberra
27, 28 July. Bookings: 6247 1223.
Tsugaru: Soul and Beat of Japan
Llewelyn Hall, Australia National University,
Canberra
20 August.
Bookings: Canberra Ticketing 6275 2700
Canberra Nara Sister City Committee
President Terry Newman tjn@tjn.com.au
Editor Rani Austin rani.austin@act.gov.au
Deadline next issue: 15 August 2006
Year of Exchange Events
A group of lively street performers with stunning acrobatic and musical skills
delighted lunch time crowds in Garema Place on 25 May. These performers are
keeping alive the dynamic Japanese folklife tradition of ‘Chindon Ya’.
At Craft ACT (25 May – 2 July) the stunning exhibition Traditions & Departures
highlighted Japanese influences in Australian craft and design.
On 15 June, Prime Minister John
Howard joined the Ambassador
of Japan to launch a touring
exhibition at the High Court of
Australia. Partners in a New
Vision: Australia and Japan Across
Time is a photographic exhibition
that tells the story of Australian
- Japanese relations from the early
nineteenth century until today.
Canberra audiences were
Princess of the Moon
enthralled by a stunning night
of opera on16 June at Llewellyn
Hall. The Tokyo Opera Production’s ‘Princess of the Moon’, brought together
internationally acclaimed maestros with the crème of Canberra’s musical talent.
Composed and directed by Japan’s critically acclaimed conductor, Hideaki Hirai,
the contemporary opera was inspired by a classic Japanese folktale.
An enchanting musical performance by acclaimed composer Youmi Kimura on
4 July at the Theo Notaras Multicultural Centre brought warmth to a cold
Canberra evening. The acclaimed singer and lyre performer became famous
in 2001 with her song ‘Always With Me’, the closing theme to the Academy
Award winning animation film Spirited Away.
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Canberra - Nara Shimbun
Making connections
Canberra Bonsai Society (CBS)
has recently established direct
contact with the Nara Branch of
the Nippon Bonsai Association.
His April trip to Nara gave John
Lamb the opportunity to meet with
Nara Branch members in Yamato
Koriyama. John presented a letter
of introduction and a folder of
information about the activities of
the CBS to Mr Tsukamoto. Check
out the CBS website for more
information www.cbs.org.au.
John Lamb, Canberra Bonsai Society
Among Mr Tsukamoto’s Bonsai was
this 300 year old Japanese yew tree
(Taxaceae) seen here from the rear.
Photo courtesy of Eventpix
Our Cities Celebrations
Sentosai – the Moving of the Capital
– is one of Nara’s many annual
festivals. The event marks the
establishment of Nara as Japan’s first
permanent capital. In 2010 Nara
celebrates the 1300th anniversary of
this event! To mark this occasion, the
city of Nara is building a replica of
the first main palace on the original
Nara Palace site.
Canberra’s first centenary in 2013 will
also be an opportunity for the city to
celebrate its history and achievements.
To find out more about plans visit
www.canberra100.com.au
Canberra Nara Sister Cities
GPO Box 158
Canberra ACT 2601
Australia
Tel: 61 2 6207 5378
Fax: 61 2 6205 1573
canberranara.sistercity@act.gov.au
www.cmd.act.gov.au/nara_sister_city
Teacher exchange
I have been fortunate to have nine months exchange teaching at Nara’s Ichijo
Senior High School. Ichijo has an exemplary English program with a strong
community atmosphere, which has been good to experience.
Beyond school, there was even more to delight in. Japanese history, culture
and society are fascinating, with myriad aspects to decipher, absorb and
understand. Not surprisingly, some are only dimly perceived at the end of nine
months! More please sir!
One aspect of Japan that I have really enjoyed is my abacus class. I have been
dedicated about my Soroban Club; which is perhaps how Japanese do things.
It has done wonders for my mental arithmetic and may help some of my Aussie
students in the future.
My hiking club was an excellent way to meet Japanese people and, as we
often went to an onsen and then out to dinner after each hike, a great way
to see a lot more of Japan besides the national parks. It was there, talking
to my Japanese friends, that I developed a real fascination with the Japanese
language.
It has been a professionally and personally enlivening time. And most
importantly, the bonds of friendship have grown stronger in Nara, Canberra’s
sister city.
Steve Galliford
Exchange teacher at Ichijo High School
Left to Right: Nara Municipal Ichijo Senior
High School Principal Mr Sakai Shigeharu,
with Rani Austin, Steve Galliford, Emma
Epstein and Rie Kotani.
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