Background
In 1984 the Hawkesbury Shire Council, led by President Bruce Brown, formed the Hawkesbury Sister City Assocation (HSCA). Its aim was to live up to the pledge of the Father of Sister Cities International, American President Eisenhower, to never repeat the tragedy of war. Mr Brown was a catalyst for the affiliation of sister cities within Australia as second President of Australian Sister Cities Association (ASCA) and contributed to that organisation from its earliest days in Alice Springs. He has been an example of the strong and consistent support that the HSCA has received from the Hawkesbury's local government. In addition to being a life member of ASCA, Mr Brown along with Jean Peare, Yvonne Whalan and Sue Machon have been recognised with life membership to HSCA for their tireless contribution to this organisation of international and community friendship.
The first sister city relationship began in 1984 with Temple City, California which lies in the shadows of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and is one of 85 cities which form Los Angeles County. The second sister city relationship and most prolific in terms of student exchange is with Tamba, Japan which was established in 1988. Tamba is located in the heart of Japan's most historical preference Kyoto and has an agricultural base similar to the Hawkesbury.
Since 1988 over 190 students have been exchanged between Tamba and the Hawkesbury through a 5 week home stay program. The student exchange program with Temple City started in December 2000 and since then approximately 48 students have been involved. Each year 6 Hawkesbury students are selected for Japan and another 6 for America approximately 6 months prior to departure, this time allows for the group to develop a strong bond together so that they can share in each others joy and talents as well as being pillars of support to anyone who feels a little homesick while away. In addition the program also focuses on group dynamics and cultural differences between Australia, Japan and America. Time is also given for discussion on the host family environment, housekeeping, dress code, considering the host families expectations, homesickness, problem solving, airport procedures and general knowledge questions on Australia and the Hawkesbury.
In an effort to support our charter on top of the student exchange program, the HSCC has organised exchanges between sporting teams and adult groups. It is our hope that in 2005 our adult program will be expanded by encouraging adult interest groups such as walking, quilting, gardening and pottery groups to visit their counterparts in Japan and America.
