2022 FSFA Chairperson’s Report
The past year has been challenging for all of us due to
having to live with the on-going effects of the coronavirus. These
unprecedented times has impacted FSFA in many ways. but due to the on-going
commitment from the committee members, FSFA continues to plan for the future.
Earlier this year we were able to resume our face-to-face
meetings at Frankston City Council which has been great. The Committee continue
to meet on the first Tuesday of each month, with some members choosing to ZOOM
into the meeting.
Frankston
City Council continues to support the FSFA Committee in promoting cultural
experiences to the Frankston community. We acknowledge the financial support
which assists with funding events such as the Japanese Fair, Speech Contests
and our Hanami party.
This year we celebrate our 40th anniversary with
our Sister City, Susono. Unfortunately, we have not been able to celebrate with
our friends from Susono in person, however we have participated in celebratory
ceremonies via ZOOM which have been very successful.
As the year progressed, were able to resume some of our usual
cultural activities within the community.
In September FSFA hosted another very successful Speech
Contest at Monash University. The speech contest was well attended and the 47
students who participated all spoke very well.
Our Japanese garden continues to be a wonderful sight at
Frankston High School. On October 23rd 2022 we were able to hold a Japanese
Hanami party for our FSFA Committee and members of the community. The Hanami
party was attended by the Mayor of Frankston, Nathan Conroy and Councillor Sue
Baker.
Unfortunately,
due to the impact of COVID, our friends in Susono had to postpone their
scheduled trip to Frankston which was planned for October 2022. We hope to
welcome them back to Frankston in the future, and at a recent ZOOM meeting
between FSFA and SOFA, SOFA have invited FSFA to visit Susono in October 2023
to attend the Australian Fair. Hopefully we will be able to meet again in
person next year.
Our small, but dedicated committee members continue to do a
wonderful job in promoting FSFA and sharing their love for Japan to others.
Simon Hast (Vice Chairperson) does an amazing job in overseeing the Japanese
Garden at FHS, and organising the working bees which the other committee
members assist with. Bev Hannan continues to keep the financial books balanced
which is fantastic. Therese Sakamoto and Sam Warrington do a great job in
communicating with our friends on SOFA as both (being past FSFA exchange students)
are fluent in Japanese. Our other committee members, Anita and David Cross, Vic
Webster, Helen Wilson and Adrian Thomas are all valued members of our small
team and assist wherever required.
On October 10th 2022, Simon, Therese, Bev and
myself gave a presentation to Frankston Mayor and Councillors about the history
of our Sister City Relationship, including some of the highlights from over the
past 40 years. It was an opportunity to invite the councillors to assist with
future activities that we have planned, including assistance with holding
another Japanese Festival and also future delegations to Susono.
Overall, it has been another busy year for FSFA. Our small
Committee remains dedicated to the Association and hopes to resume even more
activities in the future such as our Japanese Festival, hosting students from
Susono on school delegations and visiting Susono.
Thank you to all those who have made the past 40 years such a
success, including the current and former Committee Members, as we look forward
to the future.
Stay safe and
well,
Julie D’Arcy
