International friendships

The worldwide Sister City movement aims to develop friendships between the people of different countries to enhance understanding across cultures. Beginning in the US after World War 2, Sister City arrangements can support business, trade and the economy.

Campaspe Shire Council has developed three international friendships with:

Shiroi Shi, Japan

Located 35 kilometres east of Tokyo within the Chiba Prefecture (state), 50,000 people call Shiroi Shi (city) home.  Approximately 35.4 square km in size, the city includes residential, forest, and agriculture lands.

Campaspe Shire Council officially sealed an International Friendship Agreement with Shiroi on 13 February 1998 agreeing to:

  • educational
  • economic
  • tourist
  • cultural
  • and other exchange programs

that benefit both Campaspe and Shiroi. The overall goal is to positively contribute to the friendship between Australia and Japan and promote world peace.

A delegation from Campaspe Shire Council visits Shiroi every two years as part of their town festival.

Lequidoe, District of Aileu, East Timor

In October 2004, following a visit to Campaspe Shire Council from the First Lady of Timor Leste, Kirsty Sword Gusmao, local interest in the people of East Timor grew. Out of that interest began the Campaspe East Timor Association in Friendship group (CETAF).

On 3 May 2005, a friendship agreement with Lequidoe in the District of Aileu, near Timor Leste’s capital Dili, was signed by the District Administrator of the Aileu District Sr Martinho Martos and then Campaspe Shire Mayor, Cr Judi Lawler.

Campaspe Shire Council has since joined an established friendship between Hume and Moreland City Councils with the District of Aileu.

Lequidoe has a population of 4,430 people, mostly farmers, living in seven villages and subvillages. Located in the mountains, this community’s most pressing needs are for improved infrastructure, water supply and sporting facilities.

This friendship demonstrates Council’s commitment to social justice and provides an opportunity for the Campaspe community to work together to support others experiencing disadvantage.

Want to get involved?

The friendship group meets on the second Monday of every second month at 5pm in the Campaspe Regional Library, Echuca (except for public holidays).

If you’d like to get involved contact secretary, Pauline Cleary, 0429 978 079

Shangri-La, China

Campaspe Shire Council signed a Sister City Agreement with Shangri-La in China on 14 June 2008. The focus of the friendship is education exchange programs, trade and tourism.

Located where Tibet, Sichuan and Yunnan meet in Yunnan Province, China, Shangri-La boasts picturesque natural scenery and harmonious living where people of different religious and cultural heritage co-exist peacefully. It is surrounded by snow-capped mountains, forests, gorges, and lakes.  

Formerly called Zhongdian or "Jiantang" in Tibetan, it changed its name to Shangri-La in 2002.

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