How it all started
Thursday, May 26, 2011 at 1:25PM Port Stephens will be hosting the Pac Rim sailing challenge from March 17th to 24th, 2012.
In 1990 the first Pacific Rim (Pacrim) Yacht Challenge was held in Bellingham. Pacrim is a sailing regatta, conducted over 1 week, and involving six cities from around the Pacific Rim. The challenge runs every second year and is hosted in turn by the cities.
Between 100 and 150 people, sailors and supporters, attend from Sister Cities bring substantial economic benefit to the host city.
Pacrim has been held in:- • 1992 Port Stephens, Australia.: 1994 Tateyama Japan • 1996 Tauranga NZ. 1998 Victoria Canada • 2000 Port Stephens Australia 2002 Bellingham USA • 2004 Nahodka Russia 2006 Tauranga NZ • 2008 Tateyama Japan: 2010 Victoria Canada.
Port Stephens will be hosting the Pac Rim sailing challenge in 2012.
Kushiro, Port Stephens and Newcastle Wetland Sister City Agreement. The Latham Snipe, known locally as a Japanese Racing Pigeon, migrates from the Kushiro wetlands in the winter to the warmer Newcastle and Port Stephens wetlands.
This agreement was first made in 1994 and renewed in 2004. A delegation from Kushiro attended the renewal signing at the Shortland Wetlands Centre.
In 2004 a delegation of 5 students attended the World Youth Eco Summit in Kushiro. This was an amazing opportunity for these students to befriend other youth from all around the world and participate in this important issue.
In 2007 a delegation of 88 people visited Port Stephens from Kushiro
1999 -Yugawara in Japan formally became a Sister City, after many years of exchanges and Friendship City relationships. Subsequent tours have been hosted to and from Yugawara in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, & 2010. Students from Yugawara attend school at St Phillips in Salamander Bay and our students also spend some time in the Japanese school system.
A Friendship City agreement was signed with Tateyama in 1999 and formalised with a sister city agreement in 2009. A delegation from Port Stephens attended the official signing in Tateyama in November 2009. In 2010 a delegation from Tateyama came to Port Stephens for the reciprocal signing at council chambers. Tours have been hosted to and from Tateyama in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008.
During the 2003 tour Port Stephens was treated to the angelic voices of the wings choir from Tateyama. The choir made up of 23 youth performed several concerts in the area.
A number of tours have been hosted from Bellingham, the most recent in August 2010. These tours are generally youth and based around dance or sport.
In 2009 Port Stephens celebrated its 20th anniversary. A dinner was held on 18th October and was attended by 120 people who at one time have had or still have an affiliation with PS SC.
In July 2010 Port Stephens proudly won the Australian Sister Cities Association award for our submission on new affiliations. We also picked up the prestigious award for overall display complementing the submission.
All travel costs are paid personally by the travelling members, however costs are kept to a minimum by home-hosting. Home hosting, whether in your home or theirs is the best way to experience another culture. It's not all school or official stuff. Tours of the local areas and functions are organised by the host nation and a good time is always had by all.
Bill Haskell,