Lismore City Council last week welcomed five students from Yamato Takada. They will spend the next two weeks discovering all that Lismore has to offer as part of the Yamato Takada sister city exchange program.

This program, which resumed last year after a COVID-19 hiatus, celebrates a cultural friendship that dates back to 1963, making it Australia's longest-running sister city relationship.

Lismore City Mayor Steve Krieg said this program not only strengthens the bonds between our two cities but also provides invaluable experiences for our young people.

“It’s exciting to see our local students and their international peers building friendships and learning from one another. It’s a unique opportunity for our young people, one that is not typically available in most regional cities,” he said.

“I hope the students enjoy everything that Lismore has to offer.”

The Yamato Takada students’ first stop was the Council Chambers, where they enjoyed a morning tea with the General Manager, the Mayor and members of the Sister City Advisory Group. 

Over the next 14 days, the five students and their chaperone will be treated to the complete Lismore experience, visiting many of the city's iconic attractions such as the Koala Care Centre, Lismore Rainforest Botanic Gardens, Rocky Creek Dam, Heritage Park, Nimbin and local farms. The group will also visit Kadina High School, where they will meet local students and experience school life in Australia.

Since the sister city relationship began, both cities have developed mutual student exchange visits, cultural and educational activities, tourism opportunities and visits between Mayors, Councillors and community members. 

The annual sister city student exchange program, which started in 1985, offers high school students from both cities an unforgettable immersion into the cultures, cuisines and histories of both countries. The visiting students will stay with local host families, fully experiencing Lismore's way of life. In September, five students from Lismore will visit Yamato Takada and stay with Japanese host families as part of the exchange.

If you see the students around Lismore, make sure to say hello and give them a warm Lismore welcome.