Marrickville Council Sister Cities Program - Seeking Committee members
Marrickville Council's Sister Cities program aims to increase international understanding and foster world peace by furthering international communication and exchange at the person-to-person level through city-to-city affiliations.
Council has active sister city relationships with Bethlehem in Palestine, Funchal in Portugal, Kos in Greece and Larnaca in Cyprus.
Council is calling for applicants to join its Sister Cities Committee to provide advice to Council on the establishment and maintenance of its sister city relationships and to help and advise on Council's sister city programming. Council is seeking people of all ages with an association, cultural background or heritage representative of the sister cities. The Committee meets every three months, out of work hours, in Petersham for approximately 1½ hours.
To nominate to become a member of the Committee please submit an on line application to: http://marrickville.smartygrants.com.au/sistercitynominations
Alternatively you may request a form be sent to you by contacting Council's Community Cultural Development Officer.
Applications close Friday 26 April 2013. For more information about the Program and Committee please contact Council's Community Cultural Development Officer on (02) 9335 2293 or by email at ccdo@marrickville.nsw.gov.au.
Marrickville has a comprehensive Sister Cities Program that reflects the area's culturally diverse population. Council's Sister Cities Program is aimed at increasing understanding and fostering world peace by furthering international communication and exchange at the a personal level through city-to-city affiliations.
Marrickville Council currently has sister city relationships with:
- Keelung, Taiwan, established in 1989
- Kos, Greece, established in 1990
- Funchal, Madeira, Portugal, established in 1996
- Larnaca, Cyprus, established in 2005
- Safita, Syria, established in 2005
- Bethlehem, Palestine, established in 2007
- Zonnebeke, Belgium, established in 2007
Council has also agreed to formalise a Sister Cities Agreement with the municipality of 6th October City, Egypt.
There are many ways for community members to become involved it the sister city relationships. One of the innovative programs that Council maintains with its sister cities is the annual International Artists Exchange Program. Through this program, a local artist is able to visit one of our sister cities, with Marrickville playing host to an artist from one of our sister cities in return.
Marrickville's Sister Cities Committee, currently comprises local representatives from each country with which Council holds sister city relationships and nominated Councillors, meeting quarterly to discuss issues relevant to the Sister Cities Program and look at new ways to evolve our sister city relationships. In November 2008, Council adopted the Sister City Strategic Plan. The Plan outlines objectives to be achieved by the Sister Cities Program, such as sharing Marrickville's values, expertise and culture, and how these are to be achieved.
Council also maintains membership of and active participation in the Australian Sister Cities Association (ASCA).
- Click here to read stories about Council's Sister Cities, as shared by Marrickville Councillors, staff and citizens.
For further information on the Sister Cities program, please email cdo@marrickville.nsw.gov.au .