About the South West Chapter of the Australia Japan Society of Western Australia (Inc)

The Australia-Japan Society - Western Australia Inc. has a South West Regional Chapter based in Bunbury The South West Regional Chapter was formed in Bunbury in 2008 to expand the reach of Western Australia's pre-existing Australia Japan Society, which has been based in Perth since its inception. Background Pauline Vukelic, Valda Smith and Jenny Byatt formed a working party to explore the possibility of starting a Japan-related interest group in Bunbury. A survey was circulated by email among members of the wider Bunbury community known to have a connection to Japan or to be very active in the community. Anyone interested in attending was invited to the Bunbury-Setagaya Sister City Sundowner held May 16th 2008 at West Coast International College of English during the visit of 4 marathon runners from Setagaya hosted by the Bunbury Runners Club. Most Sundowner participants completed a survey and circulated additional copies among friends. The majority of survey respondents expressed interest in forming a regional chapter of AJS WA. Objectives of the South West Regional Chapter to uphold the aims of AJS and to cooperate with and support existing Japan-related groups with their exchanges, activities and general endeavours to encourage the development of closer links between individuals and interest groups in the cape area of the south-west in particular and in Australia and Japan generally to seek financial support from prominent south-west businesses in order to offer scholarships that will increase educational exchange programs with Japan to the benefit of local and Japanese students to identify opportunities to develop areas of mutual interest between Australia and Japan About Bunbury Bunbury is an attractive and interesting mixture of a pleasant, gracious city combined with a strong and successful industrial base built on the city's port. Located 173 km south of Perth it was once an important port for the shipment of wheat from the hinterland. Today no wheat leaves through the port. Instead the port concentrates on woodchip and alumina and the city of Bunbury has become the regional commercial centre. >> more information on the History of Bunbury

Sister-City Relations

City of Bunbury and Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan
The City of Bunbury formed a sister-city relationship with Setagaya-ku in Tokyo, Japan in 1992. The Bunbury-Setagaya Sister Cities Committee (BSSCC) was formed. Sister-city activities have included photographic exhibitions, annual primary school student exchanges, general citizen exchanges, local government exchanges, business exchanges, running group exchanges, the creation of a Japanese garden and torii gate monument in Bunbury and participation in Bunbury's Multicultural Night Under the Stars.

Shire of Busselton and Sugito-machi, Saitama, Japan
The Shire of Busselton signed a sister-city agreement with Sugito-machi in Saitama-ken, Japan in 1996, shortly followed by the establishment of SOBSCA, the Shire of Busselton Sister City Association (SOBSCA). Sister-city activities have included annual year 10 high school exchanges, general citizen exchanges, local government exchanges and training opportunities, musical and artistic group exchanges, export of local product to Sugito, the creation of a Japanese garden and torii gate monument in Busselton, photographic and art and craft exhibitions, an English language assistant teacher (BSET) position in Sugito's government schools, a Japanese film festival and participation in Bunbury's Multicultural Night Under the Stars.

Bunbury and Busselton joint-hosted the Australian National Sister Cities Conference in 2001 and SOBSCA and BSSCC send each other the minutes of their meetings, invite representatives of each group to their respective civic receptions and hold annual events to keep in touch with one another.

Other South West Links With Japan

Bunbury and Busselton both have Rotary clubs that have had exchanges with the Saitama-Tokyo area of Japan.

Japanese language is taught as a LOTE subject in the Bunbury area at Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School, Ocean Forest Lutheran College, Parkfield Primary School and Australind High School. It is also taught privately at West Coast International College of English and by private tutors on demand. Japanese language is taught as a LOTE subject in the Busselton area at Busselton Senior High School and Dunsborough Primary School. It is also taught privately at a Busselton Senior Citizens Centre.

The abundance of casual work in the Bunbury-Busselton area in farming, fishing, forestry and meat handling attracts a large number of Japanese working-holiday makers who seek a second working-holiday visa.

Bunbury has an authentic Japanese restaurant named Kokoro. In the past Busselton has had a restaurant named Sugito and Bunbury had an authentic Japanese gift and food store named Tonoya New Infusion. There are additional outlets for Japanese cuisine and food in both Bunbury and Busselton.

Bunbury and Busselton have martial arts schools and students with connections to Japan.

The Bunbury Port has ships visiting from all over the world, including from Japan.

Bunbury Dolphin Discovery attracts a small number of Japanese volunteers on a short-term basis (1-2 weeks) and long-term basis (6+ weeks).

West Coast International College of English, Western Australia's only regionally based ELICOS College, attracts an ongoing number of Japanese students of English.

Bunbury Education Network formed in 2007 with the goal of promoting the wider Bunbury area as a premiere destination for international students. Members include Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School, Dental Nursing Australia, South West TAFE, ECU South West, Manea Senior College, Sophia College and West Coast International College of English