What is a Sister City?
A sister city relationship is agreed to between cities generally in different parts of the world or with different cultures.
Through formal ties between local governments, sister cities encourage the on-going exchange of people, ideas and resources in a variety of cultural, educational, sporting and economic activities.
These activities are for the mutual benefit of the respective cities, communities and people involved.
Many cities, municipalities and shires in Australia have at least one sister city relationship with a city or town overseas, or within Australia, with many having multiple affiliations.
Wyndham City is fortunate to have three highly value relationships. Two are Sister Cities and one is a Friendly City.
Purpose
Each relationship is different and has its own particular strength, however, generally relationships aim to deliver benefits, growth or outcomes in one or more of the following areas. They may aim to:
- Promote Cultural Awareness, Understanding and Friendship,
- Develop Economic Activity including Trade, Tourism, Sport and Investment, and
- Support Educational exchange to increase knowledge, global awareness and foster harmony.
Costa Mesa, USA
Wyndham City’s longest standing relationship is with the beautiful city of Costa Mesa, California, USA. This Sister City was established in 1996 and has evolved into a very successful educator/student exchange program whereby students from various Wyndham schools have visited Costa Mesa annually and conversely a delegation of students has visited Wyndham annually.
Over the years school such as Werribee Secondary College, Galvin Park Secondary College (now Wyndham Central College) and more recently Hoppers Crossing Secondary College have been involved in student exchanges with Costa Mesa.
Hoppers Crossing Secondary College has for a number of years had an annual exchange program with Estancia High School. This very positive relationship between the two schools enables learnings, sharings and experiences which support growth in leadership skills, knowledge and global awareness for the students.
The former Mayor of Wyndham City, Councillor Mia Shaw hosted the Sister City - Costa Mesa Dinner 5th August 2019 at the Wyndham Civic Centre. Seven students from Estancia High School along with their Chaperone Teacher – Ms Anne McClanahan attended the dinner. The Acting Principal Mr Rod Kendall, Assistant Principals, Sister City Coordinator, Chaperone teachers and students from the Sister City School - Hoppers Crossing Secondary College also attended.
The Costa Mesa students delivered an outstanding presentation on the Californian drought, the Orange Coast College Recycling Centre, Surf Culture, Estancia High School and where they see themselves in the future.
Additionally, there have been Councillor and staff delegations between Wyndham and Costa Mesa and visa versa. Visiting international cities provides the opportunity to gain a different perspective on core Council issues. Observing other projects and programs in operation allows the respective cities’ delegations to assess how similar initiatives could be relevant to their city.
Overview Costa Mesa
Located on the "coastal tableland" above Newport Beach, Costa Mesa's first inhabitants were native American Indians who settled on the mesa near the banks of the Santa Ana River. Artifacts found here indicate that this site was a part of the village they knew as Lukup.
Today, Costa Mesa is a major commercial and industrial center of Orange County. The population in 2024 is estimated to be 107,881. The city, which formally adopted the slogan "The City of the Arts” in 1999, is home to Pacific Symphony and the South Coast Repertory Theater. The 3,000-seat Segerstrom Center for the Arts (previously known as Orange County Performing Arts Center) was completed in 1985. In 2006, both the 2,000-seat Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall and the 500-seat Samueli Theater held their grand openings.
Photos: Costa Mesa
Website:
Chiryu, Japan
10 February 2000
Wyndham City’s second longest standing relationship is with the city of Chiryu, Japan – a city that boasts beautiful parks and historic temples. This Sister City was established on 10 February 2000.
Since that time Wyndham has sent a number of delegations to the City (3 including the initial signing of the agreement and then an additional informal visit by a staff member)
A significant year for the relationship was 2010 as a delegation of The Chiryu International Association President Mr Harui Ono, the Chiryu International Association Advisor Mr Shoichi Nakane, Mayor Ikuo Hayashi and Chairperson Osamu Sakata headed a delegation of many Japanese people to Wyndham to celebrate the Chiryu International Committee’s 20th Anniversary. The delegation stayed with us for three days and they were taken on trips around Wyndham
This delegation to Wyndham was then followed by a return Wyndham delegation to Chiryu in November where we celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Wyndham-Chiryu Sister City Relationship
For well over a decade now Wyndham has enjoyed annual visits by secondary students from Chiryu. The students are hosted in a Wyndham school where they are immersed in the daily activities. Likewise, Wyndham’s students have the opportunity to learn from their Japanese counterparts.
The relationship continues to be positive achieving 24 years on 10 February 2024.
16 Feb 2023
Reception for 63rd birthday of the Emperor of Japan hosted by Consul-General, Junji and Kaoru Shimada.
Overview Chiryu
Chiryu is situated in central Aichi Prefecture bordered by the Aizuma River to the north and the Sawatari River to the south. In 2020 the population was estimated to be 72,193.
The economy of Chiryū is industrial, with automotive parts and automotive electronics manufacturing predominating. Fuji Corporation, a machine tool manufacturer, has its head office and factory in Chiryū. The city has numerous road and rail connections to downtown Nagoya.
Chiryu is known for the Muryoju-ji Temple along with the adjoining Yatsuhashi Kakitsubata iris water gardens, and for the tahoto pagoda at the Chiryu Jinja Shinto Shrine.
Other significant attractions include the rows of pine trees and the ruins of Chiryu Castle.
Photo: Chiryu Shrine
Photo: Chiryu Shrine
Websites:
Changzhou, China
Wyndham’s most recently established international relationship is that of a Friendly City Agreement with Changzhou, China. Changzhou is a major city located within the Jiangsu province which is Victoria’s Sister State.
Commencing discussions a couple of years earlier and nurturing the relationship, the formal Friendship City Agreement was signed by Wyndham City and the Changzhou Municipal People’s Government on 19 May 2019.
Delegations of key dignitaries have occurred and Wyndham has had the opportunity to showcase key assets including its diverse business, industrial and agricultural precincts and tourist attractions.
Situated in the south to the Yangtze River and at the shore of Tai Lake, Changzhou is halfway between Shanghai and Nanjing, and borders Suzhou and Wuxi to form the Su-Xi-Chang Metropolis Area with a population of approximately 3,780,000.
Unfortunately, COVID-19 lockdowns began not long after the signing of the Friendship City Agreement. Wyndham and Changzhou now look forward to re-igniting the relationship and maximising its potential.
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Overview for Changzhou
Changzhou, like Wyndham, is undergoing rapid transformation, from a traditional focus on farming and manufacturing to a modern economy. Like Wyndham City, the Changzhou Government is committed to fast tracking the growth and prosperity of the municipality, in the areas of smart technology, education, green energy and waste to energy initiatives, biotechnology and engineering technology. Two significant precincts are located in Changzhou: the Changzhou Export Processing Zone and the Changzhou National Hi-Tech District.
A significant places of interest in Changzhou include the China Dinosaurs Park located in the Xinbel District of the City. The Park has a collection of dinosaur bones and fossils from all over China, thirty amusement programs including the Brontosaurus Roller Coaster and the Park is also home to giant panda and sea lion exhibitions.
The city is also home to the Tianning Temple—one of the largest Zen Buddhist temples and monasteries in China. The city recently rebuilt the Tianning pagoda in the temple grounds, which is adjacent to Hongmei Park. The pagoda, called the Tianning Baota was first built during the Tany Dynsasty (AD 618 - 907). Since that time it has been destroyed and rebuilt five times. The current reconstruction is built to the height specification of 153.79 m (504.6 ft). This makes it the tallest pagoda in China and perhaps also the world. Both the Hongmei Park and Tianning Temple are located just to the east of the city centre.
Activities
Sister Cities Australia National Conference 2023
Wyndham was fortunate to be the site of the 2023 national conference of the Sister Cities Australia organisation of which Wyndham is a member. The conference attracted delegates from across the country to come together to hear from a range of impressive, high calibre speakers. Several case studies were also presented including Mildura, Blacktown and Wyndham.
If you would like to learn more about Wyndham’s International Relations please email lesley.rogan@wyndham.vic.gov.au.