On 8-12 November 2003 Orange will be hosting national and international delegates to the ASCA National Conference. The opportunity to host the 2003 Australian Sister Cities Association National Conference is a great honour for Orange. Orange has demonstrated excellence in hosting conferences and has the facilities and people to ensure the success of the 2003 Australian Sister Cities Association National Conference.
“As one of the aims of ASCA is to assist members to establish and maintain relationships the focus of the conference will be the examination of relationships at all levels,” said Jo Ahrens, Chair of the Orange Sister Cities Committee.
The conference will be held at the Orange Civic Theatre, located in the city’s cultural precinct adjacent to the Orange City Library and Orange Regional Gallery.Sunday 9 November 2003 has been set aside during the Australian Sister Cities Association National Conference to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the first sister city relationship between Australia and Japan.
The Opening Ceremony will feature a performance of the Australian and Japanese National Anthems by the Youth Choir and a welcome to guests by an Elder of the Wiradjuri tribe and the Mayor of Orange.
Forty candles on an Anniversary Cake, specially made for this memorable occasion, will be lit on stage to a resounding rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’. Representatives from Lismore and its Japanese Sister City will be giving speeches to mark their longest serving Sister City relationship.
This will be followed by a keynote speech by Dr Keith Suter, a well known strategic planner and futurist, who will speak on the changing colours of international relationships. Former Australian of the Year and Chairman of Clean Up Australia, Ian Kiernan AO will deliver the keynote address on Volunteers, Community Power and Relationships.
The relationship theme will be explored further with addresses from Jamie Ritchie from Westpac Corporation and Don Smith from the Australia Japan Foundation and Department of Foreign Affairs. The 2003 NSW Rural Woman of the Year, Milada Safarik, and Jon Dee (courtesy of Claxton Communications), co founder of Planet Ark, will speak on young people leading and challenging in the modern world.
“An exciting conference and social program has been organised to explore the many aspects of Sister City relationships and to introduce delegates to the fine food and wine that has become a signature attraction of Orange,” said Conference Coordinator, Jennifer Derrick.
Regional Express (Rex) Air operates daily flights connecting Orange directly to Sydney and is offering delegates a special conference rate airfare when travelling to Orange for the ASCA Conference. For interstate participants, Rex Airlines and Virginblue are teaming up to provide a luggage transfer free trip with bookings through Rex Airlines.
”Study trips are being organised to a number of attractions and points of interest in the district, including heritage villages, gold mining areas, wineries and Orange’s superb parks and gardens and art galleries,” Jennifer Derrick said.
Events of this importance can only be organised with the support and encouragement of the business community, and sponsorship received from organisations involved in the conference is greatly appreciated by the City of Orange. These organisations include the Australia-Japan Foundation, the Japan Local Government Centre (CLAIR, Sydney), Telstra Country-Wide, Westpac Banking Corporation, TARBS and the Japan Embassy.
Further information on the ASCA National Conference in Orange can be obtained by visiting www.sistercitiesconference.org.au or contacting Jennifer Derrick at Orange City Council telephone (02) 6393 8142 or email jderrick@orange.nsw.org.au.
