Central Coast Council will warmly welcome high school students and teachers from one of our Sister Cities on Friday 26 July.

Twenty students from Edogawa City High School, in Tokyo, along with 20 students from our local Narara Valley High School, will meet Central Coast Mayor Jane Smith and the Gosford Sister City Association for morning tea at the Council Chamber in Wyong.

Mayor Smith said she was delighted to welcome the visiting party of students and teachers.

“Our sister city relationship stretches back 30 years, providing wonderful opportunities for friendship and cultural exchange for current and future generations on the Coast,” Mayor Smith said.

“It is mutually beneficial for both regions, creating awareness between the two cultures. It also provides opportunities to practise our language skills.”

The touring Edogawa students are studying English, while their Narara Valley High counterparts are studying Japanese.

“Our exchange program has delivered many benefits for the Central Coast including the establishment of the Edogawa Commemorative Gardens and a youth exchange program along with reciprocal Mayoral, dignitary and staff visits,” Mayor Smith said.

“Last year a delegation from Council gained insights on a cultural exchange to Edogawa, which helped broaden the horizons of the Central Coast.”

Tokyo’s visiting entourage of students and teachers will be in Australia for seven days, including a homestay with families of students from Narara Valley High School. They will visit the Australian Reptile Park in Somersby, Terrigal Beach, the Japanese Gardens, National Aboriginal Islander Skills Development Association (NAISDA) and Taronga Zoo in Sydney.