Susono September Report - Yoshio Noda (FSFA Committee Member)

Our Susono-based FSFA committee member Yoshio Noda provided the following report and slideshow for our September meeting held on Monday 7th September. By clicking on the first slide you can view a larger image of all 14 slides.

2026 FSFA Japanese Speech Contest

The Frankston Susono Friendship Association held its annual Japanese Speech Contest at Monash Peninsula Campus on Friday 4^th September. The Association is a group of volunteer citizens who administer Frankston’s sister city relationship with Susono, Shizuoka in Japan on behalf of the Frankston City Council. FSFA have worked to promote Japanese culture, the study of Japanese language plus student and cultural exchanges since the sister city relationship was established in February 1982.

The Association invited students from local primary and secondary schools to this year’s contest and 40 entries were received. Contestants were required to recite a short self-introduction followed by a set piece based on the story of Hachikō, an Akita breed dog remembered for his strong loyalty to his owner, for whom he continued to wait at Shibuya Station for almost ten years following his death in 1925.

Contestants were judged by a panel of Japanese speakers and competed in Lower Primary, Upper Primary, Japanese Environment (Primary), Junior Secondary, Intermediate Secondary, Japanese Environment (Secondary) and Senior Secondary divisions.

FSFA Vice-Chairperson Simon Hast welcomed all contestants, their parents and teachers before explaining the work undertaken by the Association and the importance of the annual contest in promoting the teaching of Japanese language in our local schools.

The evening’s program started with the 3 primary divisions and 24 excited and nervous contestants presenting before the judging panel. Individual trophies were awarded to the top three students in each division, with the top contestant in each division also awarded a perpetual trophy which is displayed at their school for the next 12 months.

Results:

Lower Primary (Prep to Year 3):

1^st           Kai L (Derinya Primary School)

2^nd          Jensen H (Derinya Primary School)

3^rd           Issy R (Derinya Primary School)

Lower Primary Trophy Winners

Upper Primary (Years 4 to 6):

1^st           Dylan F-K (Derinya Primary School)

2^nd          Max W (Derinya Primary School)

3^rd           Lewis McC (Derinya Primary School)

Upper Primary Trophy Winners

Japanese Environment (Primary):

1^st           Noah L (Derinya Primary School)

2^nd          Kai dG (Overport Primary School)

Japanese Environment (Primary) Trophy Winners

The secondary schools followed with students presenting a more detailed self-introduction and set piece or Japanese themed topic in each of the 4 divisions. At the conclusion of these speeches FSFA Committee member and MC for the night Therese Sakamoto spoke on behalf of the judges noting the high standard of all contestants and recognized the enormous challenge of memorizing and presenting a speech in the Japanese language, especially given that the senior division students are required to write, memorize and present a 3-to-5-minute speech on a topic of their choice.

Results:

Junior (Years 7 & 8):

1^st           Matilda B (Frankston High School)

2^nd          Candice C (Frankston High School)

3^rd           Neetanya S (Hillcrest Christian College)

Junior Secondary Trophy Winners

Intermediate (Years 9 & 10):

1^st           Nimar D (Hillcrest Christian College)

2^nd          Enrica L (Frankston High School)

3^rd           Joey S (Frankston High School)

Intermediate Secondary Trophy Winners

Japanese Environment (Secondary):

1^st           Aki O (Frankston High School)

2^nd          Mae F (Frankston High School) 

Japanese Environment (Secondary) Trophy Winners

Senior (Years 11 & 12):

1^st           Mitch K (Frankston High School)

2^nd          Diti G (Frankston High School)

3^rd           Lakeesha H (Hillcrest Christian College)

 

Senior Secondary Trophy Winners

Secondary School Trophy Winners

A special thank you to our panel of judges for assisting at this year’s contest; the teachers and language assistants for their hours of hard work preparing their students; and the parents and families for their attendance, encouragement and support. Finally, our appreciation and thanks to the hard-working members of the FSFA Committee for organising and running another successful Japanese Speech Contest.

Judges accepting gifts from Secondary Division Winners

International Ground Golf Report - Tony Preston (JCV Ground Golf Co-ordinator)

イベント報告

イベント参加報告

JCV Ground Golf Coordinator のTony Preston さんが、昨年に引き続き、グラウンドゴルフ発祥の地(鳥取県湯梨浜)で行

われた国際大会に参加しました。その様子をレポートしてもらいました。

Ground Golf in Yurihama 2026

JCV member Tony Preston, his younger brother Dr Mark Preston, and five members of Frankston Susono Friendship Association (FSFA) played in the 2026 Yurihama International Ground Golf Open in Tottori Prefecture on Saturday-Sunday 30-31 May this year.

Last year Tony played in the tournament with his son Riki as the first Australian representatives; this year he was joined by Bev Hannan, Derek and Joan Mosely, Therese Sakamoto and Mick Collard from FSFA.

Although there were bear attacks in cities on TV, the most ferocious wildlife they saw was a hare that wandered on to the course while they were practicing.

As part of their uniform all wore an Aboriginal-designed colourful shirt, which made it easy to pick them out in the crowd, and which got Mick Collard (left) and Mark Preston (right) on the Sunday Sports page of the Nihonkai Shinbun (see below), and in the You Tube video of the competition shot by the Ground Golf Ohji Yamane Souta.

See: You Tube https://youtu.be/g3Kat2E-D2g?si=GwFCexhc8o9glUdN

Tony was also interviewed for the Yurihama Kohyo 7 2026 Vol. 262.

On Monday 1^st June, Tony travelled using a week-long rail pass to stay 2 nights at the Okuizumo-cho Cycling Terminal near Izumi-Minari Station, in order to play in the “Tsunagu” Ground Golf Tournament at Green Hill Sato on Tuesday 2^nd June. The tournament was cancelled due to rain, but Tony had come a long way so he actually played the 3 courses in light rain.

The next stop was 2 nights at the Peace Inn Masuda Ekikita at Masuda Town. Tony played in the 114^th Fureai (International, because Tony played) G.G. Tournament at Hidamari Park Mito on Thursday 6^th June. Tony scored 146/146, getting 99 strokes for 32 holes.

On Friday, Tony headed up the coast to Hamada Town to play at the Kanagi Kinta Hai GG Tournament on Saturday. Tony came 18^th out of 20, scoring 23, 25, 23, 25 for a total of 96.

On Sunday Tony caught the train back to Kurayoshi in Tottori Prefecture. On Monday 8^th June, Tony played in the 26^th Hakuto Ground Golf Hamanasu Tournament, playing with his partner from Kurayoshi Town, Nakano Kana-san.

This was the second time Tony had played on this course, playing with his fellow Australians 2 weeks ago, and he got 158/331, scoring 63 for 24 holes, 19, 23 and 21, with a hole-in-one on the last hole in the rain.

Tony practiced at Lakeside Daiei Ground Golf Course on Wednesday 10^th June, and entered the Fuse G.G. Competition at the Yamata Sports Park Athletic Field on Thursday. Tony scored 198/250, getting a hole-in-one.

On Friday 12^th June, Tony moved to Yurihama to stay at Suimeiso Inn in preparation for the 38^th Birthplace Open Competition at Shiokaze no Oka Tomari on Saturday 13^th June and Sunday 14^th June. This was a 4-person event, so Tony partnered Nakano Kana-san from Kurayoshi, and sisters Mitsue and Akemi from Tokyo, to form Team Dragon, the first team from Australia. Kana-san got 2 holes-in-one, which saved us from coming last.

So it was a pleasant 3 weeks devoted to Ground Golf in Tottori Prefecture and Shimane Prefecture in May and June, participating in 6 tournaments and practicing at another 5 courses.