City’s pride in worldwide connections

By Jim Mynard
CASEY mayor Kevin Bradford said the City of Casey took pride in its sister city and friendship links.
Councillor Bradford said Casey’s Global Friendship’s Committee upheld the principles of goodwill, harmony, increased tolerance, friendship, and understanding cultural awareness and appreciation.
He said this involved breaking down barriers, building links and humanitarian support.
The mayor was addressing guests at a Casey Global Friendships mayoral reception held at the civic centre.
He said the former City of Berwick formalised relationships with Berwick Upon Tweed in England in 1982 and with Springfield, Ohio, in the USA in 1985.
The City of Casey also formed friendship agreements with Ioannina, Greece, in 1998, and Ermera in East Timor during 2004.
The mayor said activities generated from these relationships included the 500 year tradition of the annual riding of the bounds, many student exchanges, the Edwin Flack Games and the James B Connolly Games sporting and cultural exchanges, and the Friends of Ermera’s program to help people in Ermera rebuild their lives and communities.
Cr Bradford said: “It does this by raising funds, organising the provision of goods, services and technical advice and encouraging Australian groups to assist in this process of recovery and reconstruction.
“An indication of the connections and support between our various global friendships is demonstrated by the work of the 2006 Edwin Flack Games Organising Committee, council and the Friends of Ermera who fundraised over $24,000 in November 2005 to bring out two teams of young people to enable them to participate in the 2006 Edwin Flack Games.
“Unfortunately, due to political unrest, the contingent was not able to make the visit but I will look forward to joint exchanges occurring in the future between our friendship cities,” Cr Bradford said.
He noted the creation of Casey Youth Ambassadors that grew from Sister Cities Youth Ambassadors Casey Australia (SCYACA), but originally the (SCYABA) youth committee formed in 1987.
“Casey Youth Ambassadors provide an opportunity for young people to learn about the Sister Cities movement that aims to promote world peace and understanding, encourage young people to learn about cultural tolerance, their community and world cultures, enhance leadership and personal skills and develop friendship networks around Australia,” he said.