BATHURST’S long-running sister city relationship with Ohkuma in Japan is examined in a new book by local identity Fudeko Reekie.
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Ms Reekie, who published the book Bathurst – My City in English and Japanese in 2016, says she was fortunate to be “right there from the beginning” of the sister city arrangement.
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This year is the 30th year since the first contact between Bathurst and Ohkuma.
“I felt it my duty to help make this relationship work smoothly and to be worthwhile for both Bathurst and Ohkuma,” Ms Reekie said.
“The relationship has continued in spite of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami tragedy and the ties are getting even stronger.
“So many people both from Bathurst and Ohkuma benefited through this relationship, especially young people who were sent from Bathurst to Ohkuma and vice versa.
“Some of the exchange students told me how the exchange was a life-changing experience for them.”
Ms Reekie said she thought it would be a good idea to write a history of the sister city relationship “while I can”.
“After a lot of work for six months and with a lot of help by many people, the book Bathurst-Ohkuma Sister City Relationship 1989-2018 was completed,” she said.
“Bathurst Regional Council has graciously planned the launch of the book on March 25 at the Wattle Foyer of BMEC at 5.30pm and I sincerely hope that many people, not only those who have been to Ohkuma, will attend.”