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Sister Cities Festival To Showcase The Wonders Of Chinese And Japanese Culture

Latrobe City is holding its inaugural Sister Cities Festival at Kernot Hall this coming Sunday 23 October 2011 from 11am to 4pm.

By Latrobe City - 21st October 2011 - Back to News

Latrobe City mayor, Councillor Darrell White, said that this much anticipated community event brings together the Chinese Festival and Japanese Day.

"We want to celebrate our sister city relationships with Taizhou, China and Takasago, Japan together. By merging the events, we can give the community access to all that is wonderful about the cultures and traditions of both countries.

"Both these events grew in both scope and status, attracting many people not only from Latrobe City but from the wider Gippsland and Melbourne communities, so it seems fitting to celebrate with what is sure to be another significant event for our region - the Sister Cities Festival," Cr White said.

The day will be a free event for people of all ages to get together to enjoy both Chinese and Japanese vibrant cultures and discover more about our sister cities. There will be a range of activities to take part in, be entertained by or simply enjoy. There will also be a number of dignitaries attending from Taizhou, China.

"We have strong links to our sister cities and in 2010 we celebrated our 10 year anniversary of these relationships. This new-look festival will allow the wider community, who may not have had the opportunity to visit these amazing countries, a closer connection with the extraordinary contrasts of the Japanese and Chinese lifestyle," Cr White said.

Latrobe City’s general manager recreation, culture and community infrastructure, Grantley Switzer, said that old favourites Wadaiko Rindo, would return with their crowd-pleasing Japanese drumming performance.

"Their energising display of drumming is mesmerising. The hall vibrates with the sound of their drums and their display is a visual spectacular showing off their stamina, strength and humour. To compliment this we have the Chinese Lion dancing performance which will be another highlight.

"The martial arts will be on display with Japanese karate demonstrations by the Traralgon Kyokushin Karate Club. The Chinese Ribbon Dancers and Japanese Stilt Walkers are sure to be crowd pleasures.

"We are fortunate to have 12 friends from the City of Taizhou, China attending the festival and we are looking forward to seeing their performance on stage which includes musicians, dancers and traditional Chinese calligraphy and painting.

"Many people will also find the opportunity to sample Japanese and Chinese cuisine, such as sushi, okonomiyaki and Chinese dumplings. There will also be many stalls and workshops featuring art and craft, a variety of Japanese and Chinese products such as lollies and snacks and a host of intriguing, unusual products and gifts.

"For the children, there will be plenty of activities including model railway, art workshops, Chinese Ribbon Dancing and Lion Dancing workshops to enjoy and activities to try their hand at," Mr Switzer said.

Cr White said that the day would be a rewarding sensory experience for the community.

"At the Sister Cities Festival we will see the mix of traditional and ultra-modern that makes Japan and China such vibrant places. Kernot Hall will come alive with the sights, sounds and smells of both cultures. The program is designed to ensure that visitors will be given numerous opportunities to ‘experience’ Japan and China," Cr White said.

Since 2000, Latrobe City has facilitated an International Relations Committee comprising of Councillors, Latrobe City Council officers, key industry stakeholders and members of the community and it is through their dedication and initiatives events like the Sister Cities Festival is possible, "Cr. White concluded.

Latrobe City Sisters Cities Festival is sponsored by Latrobe City Council and Australian Paper.

Photo: The Japanese drumming performance from Wadaiko Rindo is always a dynamic spectacle and Chinese Ribbon Dancing.

Media Enquiries:

Media Relations Team

Telephone: 5128 5458 or 0409 797 498

Stacey Greenwood, Acting Manager Community Relations

Telephone: 5128 5421 or 0401 824 195

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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