Lismore Students depart for a Japanese experience of a lifetime

The fve Lismore students and chaperone taking part in the Lismore City Council’s Yamato Takada Sister City Student Exchange Program leave for Japan today, which holds extra signifcance as this year marks the 60th anniversary of Lismore’s Sister-City relationship with the Japanese City. The program returns this year after being postponed in 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The initiative, which strengthens the ties between Lismore and Yamato Takada, offers an unparalleled cultural and educational opportunity for local youth, with the fve students embarking on a busy schedule of events before returning from Japan on Sunday, 8 October.

Mayor Krieg said he was excited for the students and their oncein-a-lifetime experiences.

“Our Sister City’s relationship with Yamato Takada is a cherished one, which this year is celebrating 60 years since it was established,” he said.

“I look forward to hearing from our local students on their return from the beautiful city of Yamato Takada, which has facilitated the exchange of not just students but also ideas, culture and goodwill over the years.”

Brandon Davis Yee, the Lismore Student Exchange Group chaperone who was part of the exchange program in 2016, said the fve students were keenly interested in Japanese culture.

“The fve students come from Kadina High

School, Trinity Catholic College and Richmond River High, with each student learning the Japanese language as part of their high school studies,” he said.

“One of the students wants to study engineering at University, so visiting Japan to be immersed in the technological culture that Japan offers will assist his career dream.”

Mr Yee also said his student exchange experience gave him career confdence and lifelong connections in Japan.

“To see a different culture and way of living opened my eyes to the world and gave me a career and social confdence. I have no doubt the fve students leaving today will experience personal growth, newfound perspectives and memories that last a lifetime,” he said. The group will be staying with Japanese host families, with two students staying at the home of Yamato Takada students who visited Lismore during the recent Japanese student exchange visit in August this year.

Council established a Sister City relationship with Yamato Takada on 7 August 1963 through the efforts of Father Tony Glynn.

Father Glynn, who had been working in Yamato Takada, collaborated with businesses in his hometown of Lismore to raise funds to construct a kindergarten in Yamato Takada. Through this collaboration, the Sister City relationship developed.