Welcome to Sunshine Coast Sister Cities
Welcome to the website of the Sunshine Coast Sister Cities Association.
We are a local community organization with a focus on developing international friendships and encouraging greater understanding of different cultures. The Sunshine Coast Sister Cities Association operates with the assistance of the Sunshine Coast Regional Council. We meet usually every month and visitors are always welcome. We encourage anyone with an interest in international relationships to contact us via this website and we will be happy to answer your query.
Local Beginnings
The roots for Sister Cities here on the Sunshine Coast were first established in 1991 when representatives from the then Maroochy Shire Council attended their very first Australian Sister Cities Association Annual Conference. Following a meeting of business, tourism, industrial and sporting representatives was formed a Steering Committee to establish a community based association.
In 1993 the village of March in Cambridgeshire, England ( Fenland County Council) was identified as a potential Sister City, based on the heroics of a local World war Two pilot, Jim Hocking who had sacrificed his own life in saving the village and countless lives.
Then in 1995 Council further identified Xiamen in China and Tatebayashi in Japan as being potentially beneficial Sister City links. In July of 1997 a Civic Delegation was approved to Xiamen, Fenland and Tatebayashi to promote trade and investment opportunities and full Sister City relationships between September 10 and October 1 1997.
Then in late 2005 consideration was first given to establishing links with Mont Dore in New Caledonia and Izumisano in Japan. Both have progressed steadily since that time.
What We Do
The Sunshine Coast Sister Cities Association is a community based organization of volunteers who share the commitment to promote international friendships and co-operation to enhance the cultural diversity of the Sunshine Coast. Many have an overseas background themselves and others have developed their own strong relationships throughout the globe. Annual Membership Fees are just $30 and generally we meet on a monthly basis. Amongst the members of the Sunshine Coast Sister Cities Association you will find business people, teachers, professionals, retired members, artists and musicians. In fact our membership is as diverse as our cultural backgrounds and interests. One thing is for sure however is that all our members actively contribute to the success of our cultural exchanges, school visits, art programs, trade and investment linkages and in the many aspects of education.
Once our world was a big place hampered by the tyranny of distance and mistrust. Now we can be any where almost with the click of our computer button. The world has shrunk enormously and with it have come new opportunities to benefit and learn from other cultures.
Interested? We encourage you to fill out the contacts page of our website so we can tell you more.
