Mackay has established sister city relationships with Matsuura in Japan and Honiara in the Solomon Islands. The Matsuura relationship is the most active with visits by school students and community members, and regular communication between the two cities.
Coal produced in the Mackay region is sold to Matsuura’s coal fired power station. Also a regional centre for agricultural activities and a fishing community, the two cities have much in common.
A recent delegation of 22 people has just returned from Matsuura. People are invited to join the delegations through advertisements in the local papers. Delegates, including community members, business people and Councillors, pay their own way. This year, Council invited local country singer, Graeme Connors, to be part of the delegation. He gave a number of performances while in Matsuura. A delegation visits every two years, with a reciprocal visit from Matsuura in the alternate year.
Each year, a group of students from Mackay visit Matsuura and vice versa. Most schools in Mackay teach Japanese, and currently a local resident is working in Matsuura teaching English.
