The City of Marion’s vision extends far beyond its local government boundaries to include active sister city relationships with Naracoorte in the South East of South Australia and Kokubunji in Tokyo, Japan, with the aim of fostering closer relationships and mutual understanding with other communities.


City of Kokubunji

Profile: Located in the centre of the Tokyo metropolitan area, 27 km west of the central business district, Kokubunji has a population of over 100,000 in an area of only 11.48 square km. The City has a growing small business focus specialising in electronics and precision machinery .
Apart from the normal cultural and sporting exchanges associated with sister cities, significant economic links have been established since the relationship with Kokubunji was established in April 1993.


Goods which are now sold into the Kokubunji area include wine, food products and native flora with total sales now worth more than $100, 000.

Friendships have been cemented between business people and councillors from both cities and between younger people through musical, sporting and scholastic exchanges.
Physical evidence of the link is the Japanese Garden at Oaklands Reserve, established with the help of a team of Kokubunji gardeners who worked for three weeks with Marion staff. Another sign of the bond is the Peace Wall artwork in the foyer of the City of Marion’s Administrative Centre, dedicated on Hiroshima Day in 1997.

The Corporation of Naracoorte
Profile: Located in the State’s South East, Naracoorte is a major service and commercial centre for the region. With a population of almost 7,000, the major industries are sheep and cattle grazing, cereal and small seed crops and, increasingly, viticulture. Local natural features include the World Heritage-listed Naracoorte Caves.
Since establishment of a sister city relationship with Naracoorte in September 1992 staff exchanges and sporting and cultural exchanges have occurred.
In March 1993, for example, a senior staff member at the City of Marion assisted the Corporation of Naracoorte to establish a parking register.
Sporting links have covered golf, indoor bias bowls and croquet, while there have also been visits by performing arts groups and musicians.

• initiate programs that promote and develop mutual understanding, friendship and goodwill between the City and Sister City communities;
• arrange programs of educational, cultural, sporting, economic and social exchange;
• facilitate community involvement in the Sister Cites Program;
• provide a focus for tourist and economic development with Sister Cities.
  

May 1993 - TAMA exhibition $28,466 worth of goods from Marion and region sold in Kokubunji.

July 1993 - Tour of the City of Marion by Councillors and Staff of the City of Marion and the Town of Naracoorte.

August 1993 - Visit by 16 students and 2 officials from Kokubunji to Marion High School.

September 1993 - Satellite broadcast between Kokubunji and Marion on disaster prevention.

October 1993 - Visit by Mayor Honda and Councillors from Kokubunji to Marion.

November 1993 - Celebrate Australia - $13,248 worth of goods exported to Kokubunji.

January 1994 - Marion Croquet Club visit by 12 members to Naracoorte for tournament with Naracoorte Croquet players. Perpetual trophy donated by Marion and Naracoorte Councils.

February 1994 - Visit to Marion of players from Naracoorte District Basketball-Netball Clubs. Carnival held in Marion. Perpetual trophy donated by Marion and Naracoorte Councils.

March/April 1994 - Marion High School performing arts tour to Kokubunji. 21 students and staff and parents. $1,000 contribution from Marion Council.

May 1994 - Visit by member of the Kokubunji International Association to Marion to demonstrate Japanese culture - tea ceremony, calligraphy, Ikebana, dry flower arranging, paper craft, woodblock printing. 400 Marion residents attended.

August 1994 - Visit by 18 students and 2 officials from Kokubunji to Marion High School.

August 1994 - Visit by member of Kokubunji Gardening Association. Establishment of Sister City Garden at Oaklands Estate Reserve in Marion. Gift of azumaya and stone lanterns and Japanese gardeners= tools used in the construction of the garden were presented to City of Marion.

September 1994 - Visit by officials and Councillors from Kokubunji to Marion. Dedication ceremony of Sister City Garden.

November 1994 - Visit by delegation of Marion to Kokubunji for celebration of 30th anniversary of Kokubunji becoming a city. $16,000 worth of goods exported to Kokubunji.

August 1995 Visit by 14 students and 4 officials from Kokubunji to Marion High School.

August 1995 Visit by 25 Tama Childrens Choir members and 4 officials and 6 accompanying parents.

October 1995 Visit by 13 members of the Kokubunji Agricultural Association

November 1995 Kokubunji Festival - November 5. Visit by Key Country Band to Festival. $18,743 worth of goods exported to Kokubunji Festival.

March 1996 One day visit to the City of Marion and local businesses by Mrs Haruyo Yashiro and three friends, from the Kokubunji International Association.

Mrs Yashiro and party were visiting Adelaide from 14-17 March especially for the Autumn Show at the Royal Agricultural & Horticultural Society of SA Inc.

August 1996 Visit by 10 students and 3 officials from Kokubunji to Marion High School.

Visit by Kenji and Toshiko Sakamoto and family to City of Marion. Met by by Mayor Haines, and Terry Bruun, Culture and Leisure Manager, and Kathy Branson, Personal Assistant to Terry Bruun.

September 1996 Visit by 2 officials and 12 Badminton players from Kokubunji International Association to City of Marion. First sporting exchange - all residents from Kokubunji city - tournament held on Saturday, 28 September at the Marion Leisure and Fitness Centre. City of Marion team comprised of members from the South Australian Badminton Association. City of Kokubunji won 9 games to City of Marion 5 games.

November 1996 value of goods exported to City of Kokubunji for November festival is $17,458.90.

August 1997 6 August "Hiroshima Day" launch of 6m x 3m Peace artwork displayed on wall in foyer of City of Marion Administration Centre. The artwork was launched by His Worship the Mayor of City of Marion, Mr Colin M Haines and Mr Yoichi Nakane, Mitsubishi Chairman and President of Japan Association in Adelaide. The design is a metaphor of our desire for permanent peace which is shared by the sister cities of Kokubunji and Marion. The artwork features a peace flame - a perpetual peace flame also exists at the City of Kokubunji Council offices.

August 1997 12-18 August 1997. Visit by 2 Officials, 1 tour conductor and 10 students, representing 7 secondary Kokubunji schools. Home stayed by Hallett Cove R-12 school students. First visit linking with Hallett Cove R-12 school, formerly linked with Marion High School.

November 1997 $15,544 worth of goods exported to Kokubunji for annual Festival at which approximately 140,000 people attended.

Goods consisted of Wines, Dried Flowers, Nuts and different Oils and Tea Bags.

December 1997 On 12-13 December 1997 Mayor and Mayoress Haines, Councillor Watts and Mrs Watts, Councillor Senior and Mrs Senior visited Naracoorte District Council for ABethlehem Visits Naracoorte A Christmas festivities. The Marion Masters Group Band were also invited and played for the street entertainment, the parade and the carols service.

March 1998 A group of Japanese students studying for approximately one month at the Flinders University Intensive English Language Institute visited City of Marion for an afternoon tour hosted by Mayor Haines to obtain information on the role of the Council and its activities.

May 1998 Personal visit made by Mr Shigeru Sato and Mrs Junko Sato for one day to the City of Marion. Mrs Sato was interested in the out-of-hours school program as she is currently the coordinator of a program in Tokyo.

August 1998 11- 17 August 1998. Visit by 2 Officials, 1 tour conductor and 10 students, representing 4 secondary Kokubunji schools. Home stayed by Hallett Cove R-12 school students. Second visit linking with Hallett Cove R-12 school.

25 August 1998. Visit by 18 members of the Japan Association of City Mayors to City of Marion. Met with business leaders and members of the senior executive of City of Marion, and Mayor Haines.

November 1998 Goods worth $12,637.35 exported to City of Kokubunji on behalf of the Kokubunji International Association for the Kokubunji's annual November Festival attended by approximately 140,000 people.

June 1999 Visit made by 11 gardeners from Kokubunji Gardeners Association. The purpose of their visit was to carry out general maintenance and pruning of the City of Marion’s Sister City Gardens.

July 1999 Australia Sister City Association (ASCA) Conference Darwin 4-7th July 1999. Attended by His Worship the Mayor Colin M Haines, Councillors Donley, Herraman, Watts and Eric Plet and Youth Delegates: Matthew Crawford & Daniel Lang

August 1999 Visit by 10 Students and two officials from Kokubunji to Hallett Cove School.

September 1999 Personal visit made by Ms Yashiro Haruyo, Director Sister City Committee to discuss KIA exports to Kokubunji.

September 1999-October 1999 Hallett Cove Students visited Kokubunji to perform the play the Glass Rabbit and also tour around Kokubunji.

November 1999 $10,812 worth of goods exported to Kokunbunji for annual Festival at which approximately 140,000 people attended.

February 2000 Eric Plet, Youth Officer, City of Marion and Youth Delegates Matthew Cooper and Daniel Lang attended a Conference to discuss Youth Activities at the Adelaide City Council.

Mayor Colin Haines and Mayoress Mavis Haines, Councillors and Sister City Committee members attended the Tokyo City Day celebrations including the Marion Kokubunji Sister City Race at the Morphettville Racecourse.

April 2000 A group of Japanese students studying English at Flinders University at the University Intensive English Language Institute visited City of Marion for an afternoon tour hosted by Mayor Colin Haines to obtain information on the role of Council and its activities.

June 2000 Councillor Watts, representing Mayor Felicity-ann Lewis attended our Sister City Naracoorte Council’s Mayoral Jubilee Ball in the Celebration of their 150th Jubilee.

August 2000 Visit made by 10 Japanese students from Kokubunji to Hallett Cove School.

November 2000 value of goods exported to City of Kokubunji for November festival is $12,265.55.

June 2001 value of dried flowers exported to City of Kokubunji for November fesitval is $2,711.78.

August 2001 visit to be made by 10 students and 2 officials, namely Mr Kinoshita, Manager of Social Education of the Board of Education and Mr Matsumoto.

March 2002 Visit made by 21members of the Kokubunji International Association to the City of Marion.

August 2002 visit made by 10 students and 2 City of Kokubunji officials namely Mr Tetsuo Saito, Manager of Propellant Section of Life Long Learning, Board of Education and Mr Hajime Furuya.

November 2003 value of good exported to City of Kokubunji for the November festival was $5,637.

January 2003 Mayor Felicity-ann Lewis along with Cr Donley and Cr Watts lead a delegation of 13 community members from Marion to the City of Kokubunji for the 10 year Sister City Anniversary Celebrations.

February 2003 Mayor Felicity-ann Lewis along with Cr Donley and wife and Cr Moorman and wife attended the Limestone Coast Festival in Naracoorte.

The delegation from Kokubunji Council due to visit City of Marion in July 2003 for the 10 Year Anniversary Celebrations, have postponed until July 2004 (to be confirmed), due to the outbreak of war in Iraq and SARS.

Kokubunji Council will be visiting the City of Marion from July 15-19, 2004 for the 10 Year Anniversary Celebrations.

The 10 Year Anniversary visit in July 2004 lead by Mayor Nobuo Hoshino, was a great success and further enhanced relationships with the Kokubunji Council and the Kokubunui International Association.

The delegation was made up of 5 members of the Kokubunji Council, Vice-President of the Kokubunji International Association and 7 members of Kokubunji Gardening Association.

A reception to celebrate the Anniversary was hosted by Mayor Felicity-ann Lewis to mark the 10th Anniversary. The Japanese Gardeners spent time pruning the Japanese Gardens in the Oaklands Park Reserve.

In September 2005 a group of Marion International Association (MIA) members visited Kokubunji and took time out of their tour to meet with members of the Kokubunji International Association (KIA) to further strengthen the relationship. The KIA members held a 'welcome' party for the group with a traditional Japanese meal and singing traditional songs.

Discussions were also held with the KIA and the Principal of the No. 9 Elementary School in Kokubunji regarding the possibility of developing links with Marion Primary School. This was met with enthusiasm and thought to be a very good project for the KIA and MIA to develop.

In 2006 the Japanese Garden was relocated to the west side of the Council offices due to the unfortunate continual vandalism in the Oaklands Park Reserve site. It is hoped that the gardens will be better protected in this new location.

For further information please contact Anna Minges on 8375 6661 during office hours or by email Anna.Minges@marion.sa.gov.au