- Cultural exchange boosted by new partnership between Southern Ports and City of Bunbury
- $20,000 regional partnership to support community initiatives including student exchange program between Bunbury and Setagaya Japan
Southern Ports and the City of Bunbury are joining forces to boost international relationships and support South West students.
A $20,000 investment by Southern Ports will see the City of Bunbury receive support for a range of community events and initiatives over the next year, including its long-time sister-city exchange student program.
The City of Bunbury and the Japanese city of Setagaya have fostered a student exchange program for over 30 years, with around 450 South West students participating in the program since 1992.
This year, Southern Ports' funding will subsidise 16 students from years 6 and 7 to travel to the Japanese city for 10 days from late September, where they will be hosted by local families during their stay.
This year's students are from Bunbury Primary School, Bunbury Senior High School, Kingston Primary School, Leschenault Catholic Primary School, Carey Park Primary School, Bunbury Catholic College, St Joseph's Primary School and Australind Senior High School.
In the first of two delegations from Setagaya, 16 students will also be hosted in Bunbury and their stay will include a tour of the Port of Bunbury, as well as participation in Noongar language programs and a visit to the Dolphin Discovery Centre.
The City of Bunbury manages formal international relationships on behalf of the Bunbury community to foster global interconnectedness, friendship, cross-cultural understanding and mutual wellbeing.
Southern Ports facilitated more than 2.3 million tonnes of trade with Japan over the past 12 months, including exports of alumina, grain, silica sands and woodchips as well as the import of caustic soda.
Continued support for Bunbury's Christmas in the City and Skyfest events, previously supported by Southern Ports through its Community Investment Program, is also provided through the partnership.
As stated by Ports Minister Stephen Dawson:
"Our ports create economic prosperity for our regions by connecting them to the world, so it's quite fitting this partnership between Southern Ports and the City of Bunbury helps connect young minds 7,500 kilometres apart.
"The role of WA's regional ports goes beyond trade facilitation - they're important regional partners capable of supporting community growth and opportunities such as those these students will experience."
As stated by Southern Ports chief executive officer Keith Wilks:
"Southern Ports is proud to partner with the City of Bunbury and extend our investment in our regional communities.
"Creating enduring value for our regions matters to us, and working with the City of Bunbury to support this wonderful exchange program and other initiatives certainly does that."
As stated by City of Bunbury Mayor Jaysen de San Miguel:
"The Port of Bunbury is an important economic contributor for the South West and the City has always enjoyed a great relationship with Southern Ports. This new partnership further extends that.
"We're pleased that through this partnership with Southern Ports, students will have to rely a little less on fundraising efforts and can instead focus on the great benefits of taking part in the exchange.
"This popular exchange program has seen generations of Bunbury families broaden their horizons through our long-term relationship with Setagaya, and we've been able to shine a tremendous spotlight on our own region in return."
