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Delegates arriving Saturday for Sister City conference

By Latrobe City Council - 20th September 2005 - Back to News

Delegates from across Australia, New Zealand, Japan, China and the United States will be arriving in Latrobe City on Saturday for the 2005 Australian Sister Cities Associations conference, to be hosted at various venues around the municipality from Sunday 25 to Wednesday 28 September.

Latrobe City Mayor, Councillor Bruce Lougheed, said that the event would provide delegates with the opportunity to listen to top calibre keynote speakers, share experiences of sister city community relations and visit some of Latrobe‘s top tourist spots.

"Organisers have ensured that the program is high quality, with informative and interesting presenters. Keynote speakers include Peter McGauran, Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Richard Butler, former high ranking diplomat. The program then follows with presentations from Phoebe Fraser, Glenn Manton, Kim Hughes and Ken Judge.

"Over the course of the conference delegates will hear from sister city association members on a range of experiences relating to sister city relationships as well as economic development strategies. Also, an international forum will be presented by delegates from Takasago and Taizhou," Cr Lougheed explained.

"Running alongside the main conference will be a youth conference. ASCA youth representatives will take part in a variety of rewarding and challenging experiences over the course of the event, including a presentation to the senior delegates.

Cr Lougheed added that it was not just an opportunity to meet and exchange information with fellow ASCA members, but delegates could also sample some of the region’s cultural and tourism highlights.

"The conference starts in conjunction with Latrobe City’s Japanese Day celebrations. Delegates will also be treated to a traditional indigenous welcome, as well as a cultural workshop presented by members of the local Koorie community. They will then be able to spend some time visiting areas of interest such as Walhalla and Tarra Bulga and sample a traditional Aussie bush tucker feast at Wallaby Rise in Heyfield," Cr Lougheed said.

Cr Lougheed said that the conference would put Latrobe on the map for many association members.

"Hosting this conference will be an economic boon to the area, as well as highlighting our industrial heritage, our commercial vitality and our diverse and beautiful landscape," Cr Lougheed concluded.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com