Our Committee


An introduction to our Committee members:


Executive Members:

Julie D'Arcy - Chairperson

Julie was one of the first exchange students to Susono in 1983. She has kept in contact with her host families and taken her own family, including her four children, to Japan many times. She is passionate about FSFA and our association with Susono and looks forward to working with the Committee to continue strengthening the bonds of friendship between our two cities, plus sharing our knowledge and love for Japan!
During 2025, Julie returned to Susono to live and teach English language classes before returning with the Susono Schools Delegation in late July.



Simon Hast - Vice Chairperson and Secretary/Public Officer
hasts@tpg.com.au


Simon first travelled to Japan in 1995 with teachers and students from Frankston High School and was blown away by the sights and sounds of this amazing country, plus the generosity and hospitality of its people. His involvement in FSFA helps him to maintain and promote contact with the Japanese language and culture. Simon has made 6 trips to Japan, the most recent with the 2023 Frankston Delegation, and looks forward to more in the future!




Bev Hannan - Treasurer

bevhannan@optusnet.com.au


Bev is the longest serving member of our committee, a FSFA Life Member and currently performs the role of Treasurer. She has a great love of travel and particularly enjoys her trips to Japan and our sister city Susono. Bev's past roles have also included serving as a counsellor to the many students who have come to Frankston on long term exchanges.





Committee Members:


Therese Sakamoto
therese_sakamoto@yahoo.com.au


Therese is a Japanese language teacher who completed her student exchange to Susono in 1986. After more than 35 years she has maintained a strong connection to the city and thinks of Susono as her "second home"!








Vic Webster


Vic was introduced to Japan and in particular Susono, our Sister City, through his wife Bev Hannan. He has been an active member of the FSFA Committee for over fifteen years and he especially enjoys our Japanese Festivals, visits to our Sister City, the Japanese culture and the variety of Japanese foods. Vic and Bev have home hosted many of our Susono visitors and also guests from other parts of Japan. Vic also enjoys travel and cruising to many overseas destinations.


Peter Bargholz

pbargholz@gmail.com


Peter has a long association with Japanese culture and has enjoyed many visits to Japan. He enjoys their polite and humble style of communication, their pragmatic approach to situations and challenges, and their appreciation and enjoyment of nature, beauty and quiet. But most of all Peter enjoys their magnificent cuisine! He believes that everybody needs to know about, and experience, the culture and food of Japan.



Grace


Grace's connection to Japan began in childhood, sparked by her family hosting an exchange teacher in 2000 and deepened when she attended her wedding in 2013. Her brother's marriage to a wonderful Japanese woman and their life in Tokyo with their daughter has further strengthened Grace's bond with Japanese culture.
This connection has grown through experiences like taiko drumming, which has immersed Grace in Japan's traditions and sense of community. She deeply admires Japanese humility, resilience, respect for nature, and the unforgettable cuisine which reflects its rich and harmonious way of life.



Anne Grant

a.t.m.61@icloud.com


Anne first learnt of the FSFA group through good friend and work colleague Therese Sakamoto. Working at a local primary school, she is involved in its Japanese programs. Recently deciding to join the FSFA committee, Anne looks forward to supporting the festivals and activities held throughout the year to highlight the sister cities wonderful connections. She enjoys the taiko drumming classes, travel photography, and loves the art of Shibori and Japanese calligraphy. Anne travelled to Japan in late March 2024 to experience the cherry blossom (sakura) for the first time.




Yoshio Noda


Yoshio has been a Susono residence for 43 years, and worked at YAZAKI Corporation for 40 years.  He had the opportunity to be assigned at Australian Arrow Pty Ltd in Frankston from 2002 until 2005.  He worked with FSFA as a member of the local Japanese company AAPL and re-created the relationship between YAZAKI group and FSFA.
After Yoshio’s assignment was completed, he went back to Susono and since then he has helped FSFA locally particularly when our delegations visit Susono.
During 2025, when FSFA Chairperson Julie D'Arcy was in Susono, he supported her and FSFA to have more communication with the people and organizations in Susono.
Yoshio has also been volunteering as a Boy Scout leader for more than 30 years to educate young boys and girls to help others in our society.




Nicole Mahl

Nicole joined the FSFA committee in 2023 to get involved and help grow taiko drumming in Frankston. The drumming group meets twice a month to practice and tweak our mind, body, rhythm, musicality and learn new skills. Her daughter's fascination with Japan as a child through to adulthood included manga, anime, reading books "back to front", cosplay, drawings, film making and travel, along with her own study of different cultures, history and ways to heal and stay healthy, keeps Nicole interested in learning about Japan and its people and how we are each shaped.


Cam Heyes

cheyes@fhs.vic.edu.au


Cam is currently a Campus Principal at Frankston High School having worked there for more than 15 years. He is proud to continue the strong relationship between Frankston High School, Susono and the Frankston Susono Friendship Association. He fell in love with Japan while travelling on his honeymoon more than 20 years ago, and recently travelled to Japan with his family in 2024 and to Susono with a school group in 2025.


Rod Johnston

rodsuz500@gmail.com


Rod is a FSFA Life Member, having served 13 years from the late 1980's after his daughter was an exchange student in 1987. During that time he hosted and counselled many Japanese and Australian exchange students and travelled to Susono on 2 delegations. Now retired, Rod is a former Frankston business person, Rotarian, Frankston Tourism Chair and member of other Tourism bodies. His aim, with wife Suzanne, is to continue to contribute to the friendships developed in both Japan and Australia whilst learning and sharing more advanced world culture.
Rod looks forward to 2025 and helping to manage the August Japanese Festival and Susono (SOFA) Delegation visit.


Marcia Hayes

marciahayes1@optusnet.com.au


Marcia joined the Frankston Taiko Drumming group in mid-2023 and enjoys the fun, friendships and joy of playing together and especially the sense of community she feels when she plays taiko with the group. She decided to join the FSFA committee in 2024 and is looking forward to getting involved and hopefully being a member of a future delegation to Susono and Japan and building the friendships between the citizens of Frankston and Susono.




Subscribe to: Comments (Atom)