Our Sister City

Devonport City has a formal sister city relationship with Minamata City in Japan.

Based on the premise of cultural, economic and educational exchange, the relationship serves to enhance our community’s understanding of another part of the world and to develop a mutually beneficial foundation for future generations to enjoy.

Minamata City, Japan

Minamata is a town on the West Coast of the Japanese island of Kyushu, with a similar population to Devonport.

It is a clean and green town with a focus on sustainability and nature, following an environmental disaster caused by mercury from an industrial site flowing into its bay, which caused illness in its fish population and people.

The Japanese government responded by closing off and dredging its bay, implementing many eco strategies and working hard to renew the city’s waterways and land. Today Minamata is now known as an ‘eco-city’ and has grown its economy through eco-tourism.

The relationship with Devonport was formalised in 1996 and is dedicated to encouraging friendship, co-operation and understanding – to improve peaceful co-existence worldwide.

Devonport Sister City Association

Devonport Sister City Association

The Devonport Sister City Association is a friendship group involved in Sister City activities within Devonport, including displays of Japanese cultural items and projects between Devonport and Minamata schools.

For more information about the Devonport Sister City Association please contact Council on 03 6424 0511 or email council@devonport.tas.gov.au.

Timeline of Events between Devonport and Minamata

Date	Project	Notes
1989	Devonport – formed a Devonport Sister City Association	Chairman – Alderman Bill Wilson, Mayor Geoff Squibb and community members
1992	Minamata Delegation Visit to Devonport	5 Aldermen from Minamata visit Devonport
1993	Devonport Delegation to Minamata	Devonport Mayor Geoff Squibb and wife, Helen Squibb visit Minamata
1994	Minamata Delegation visit to Devonport	September/October A delegation of 21 people from Minamata visit Devonport.
1995	Minamata Delegate visit to Devonport	25 May 1995 The Minamata Deputy Director General of Education Bureau and Director of School Education Division visit Devonport to arrange a future student visit.
1995	Devonport Delegation visit to Minamata	31 May – 1 June 1995 Devonport delegation of six travelled to Minamata. Including: Mayor Geoff Squibb, Deputy Mayor Clarrie Byrne, Alderman Ian Day, and community members Alida Beattie and Dianne Scott During visit a Memorandum of Understanding was signed, laying the foundation for a formal sister city agreement.
1995	Memorandum of Understanding signed between Devonport and Minamata signed
1995	Minamata Delegation visit to Devonport	24 July – 1 August 1995. A Minamata delegation of 11 students and 2 teachers visit Devonport. Students were hosted in homes and attended local schools.
1996	Minamata Delegation visit to Devonport	26-29 February 1996. 28 people from Minamata visit Devonport including: Mayor of Minamata City Masazumi Yoshi. Most home stayed. 27 February 1996. Mayor of Devonport City Geoff Squibb and Mayor of Minamata City Masazumi Yoshi signed an agreement to establish a Sister Cities Relationship. The ceremony included cultural demonstrations – Minamata guests Mr Fuchigami presented bamboo craft and Mrs Tanaka demonstrated flower-pressing at the Devonport Library. The visitors also witnessed the opening of the new right lane of the Victoria Bridge.
1996	Devonport and Minamata Sign Sister City Relationship Agreement
1996	Devonport Delegation visit to Minamata	1 April – ? 21 people from Devonport visit Minamata for the signing of the second stage of the Sister City Agreement at Minamata Council Chambers.
1996	Minamata Delegation visit to Devonport	13 students and 1 teacher from Minamata visit Devonport. Home stays for 7 days.
1997	Minamata Delegation visit to Devonport	February 45 people from Minamata visit Devonport. Delegation included Minamata Ladies Choir, Minamata Fine Arts Society, Minamata Poetry Recital League, and a local choir. The Floral Arts Design Group held interactive workshops at the local library, and the Minamata Fine Arts Society held an exhibition at the gallery. Delegation visited TIAGARRA
1997	Minamata Delegation visit to Devonport	A student delegation of 13 students and 2 teachers from Minamata visit Devonport. Home stay for 7 days. Attended local schools for 3 days.
1997	Devonport Delegation visit to Minamata	Devonport Sister City Association Chairman Bill Wilson visits Minamata as a guest.
1997	Devonport Awarded “Best Cultural Exchange”.	Award from the Australian Sister Cities Association in recognition of (Students and a Sports delegation) exchanges between the two cities.
1998	Minamata Delegation visit to Devonport	19 – 23 February 1998 27 People from Minamata visit Devonport. Home stay. Sporting exchange: tennis, badminton and table tennis and the exhibition sports of karate and kendo. Public demonstration by the kendo and karate participants held in the Rooke Street Mall on Saturday 21 February.
1998	Devonport Delegation visit Minamata	2 April – 15 April 1998 20 people from Devonport visit Minamata. The group included a variety of craft people, citizens of the region and several Sister City Members including Joan Andrews. Home stays. Interactive craft exhibition held in the Moyai kan Gallery, Minamata.
1998	Minamata Delegation visit to Devonport	30 July – 10 August 1998 Students from Minamata visit Devonport. Group included 15 students and 2 teachers from Minamata
1998	Devonport Delegation visit Minamata	December Devonport community members Susan Mathews and Victoria Sales visit Minamata. A short-term exchange during December to experience high school life and culture.
1998	Devonport Awarded: Best Cultural Exchange for the cultural delegation to Minamata and Best Display.	Award from the Australian Sister Cities Association
1999	Art Exhibition was displayed in Minamata	May-June A Sister City Art Exhibition was displayed in Minamata by Devonport artist Owen Gower and the Minamata Art Association for 2 weeks in May-June.
1999	Minamata visit to Devonport	July/August Students from Minamata visit Devonport. Group included 15 junior and senior high school students and 2 teachers for 3 days.
1999	Devonport Delegation – Crescendo Choir visit to Minamata	September 47 secondary school students from Devonport and surrounds visit Minamata. Group included all members of Crescendo–The Barrington District Choir and 15 adults. Purpose: Joint Choir Concert at the Minamata City Cultural Hall on 19 September 1999. The choir performed at concerts and school visits. A typhoon hit on the day they were scheduled to leave Minamata, delaying travel for a day.
2000	Minamata visit to Devonport	2-9 August
2003	Minamata visit Devonport
2005	Devonport Delegation visit Minamata	11-20 May 2005 Devonport delegation visit to Minamata Delegates included Mayor Peter Hollister, Alderman Grant Goodwin, Tony Leary, John Molnar, Peter Hay, Lillian Hay, Bruce Atkins & Sandra Atkins, Joan Andrews
2006	10^th Anniversary of the Sister City relationship	Cherry blossoms planted and a seat in Roundhouse Park
2006	Kelcey Tier Peace Pole	30 May 2006 Project involved; Devonport Sister Cities Association, Devonport City Council, Mersey Lions Club, in particular Gael Gault and Ken Knowles. And Ray Baker craft and install the pole.
2007	Devonport Sister Cities Association	Devonport Sister Cities Association New President – Alida Beattie
2007	Peace Pole Project	Project involved; students of the Devonport High and the Devonport Primary School. The peace pole project was supported by a number of volunteers in the community including the Lions Club Mersey-Devonport and the Devonport Sister City Association. Installed: Don Reserve.
2007	Devonport Awarded: National Sister City Award	Award from the Australian Sister Cities Association for the Peace Pole Project.
2007	Minamata Visits Devonport	25-28 March 2007 Adults and Students from Minamata visit Devonport.
2007	10th Sister City Agreement in Minamata	In Minamata: Mayor Miyamoto and 2 high school students planted two Australian native trees, Bottlebrushes, in front of the Minamata Cultural Centre. Minamata buried a time capsule containing letters from students in Devonport and photos taken by Minamata residents during past visits to Devonport.
2007	Devonport Sister City Association – Arbor Week	June In Devonport trees were planted for Arbor Week on May 11th near Coles Beach.
2008	Minamata visit to Devonport	A small group of Minamata International Friends Association members (friends of Ai and Rui, visit Devonport and spent time climbing mountains in Tasmania.
2008	Devonport Delegation visits Minamata	April 2008 A self-funded group from Devonport visit Minamata. Purpose: to honour The Minamata Memorial Service during Golden Week, which celebrates family.
2008	Don Reserve Peace Pole replacement pole	Grade 7 students at Devonport High School worked on a replacement peace pole for the pole that was stolen from Don Reserve. A dedication ceremony and installation on site in the Don Reserve occurred end of May 2008.
2009	Star Festival – Tanabata Festival art and literary competition	Schools from Minamata and Devonport illustrated a Japanese Fairy Tale. Three hundred pieces of artwork were sent from Minamata and a similar number from Devonport local schools. In total there were 600 works of art were exchanged. The Japanese art had been judged in Minamata and Devonport work judged by 2 retired Teachers in Devonport. All children received a Certificate of Appreciation and the winners for Japan received a little Australian badge on their certificate. Devonport Sister Cities Association conducted a Workshop at the Library where they helped children with paper craft. To celebrate the success of this event the Devonport Sister Cities Association had a Presentation Afternoon with many children from various schools. Certificates were presented by the Mayor Lynn Laycock, a small group of children sang a Japanese rabbit song.
2010	Atomic Bomb Display	2-20 August 2010 The Devonport Sister Cities Association in partnership with a Female Movement in Japan held a display at the Library where War Memorabilia was displayed by Mr. Bob Vellacott.
2011	The Year of the Rabbit	16 September 2011 Devonport Sister Cities Association held a workshop of origami cranes, macramé and other art activities.
2011	The Year of the Rabbit	22 September 2011 Schools from Minamata and Devonport participated in a display for the celebration of the fable “The Rabbit in the Moon.” The work was displayed at Devonport Library. The Devonport Sister Cities Association had a Presentation Afternoon at the Library and a presentation of the Certificates by Mayor Lynn Laycock.
2012	Australian Sister City Conference in Devonport	Schools from Minamata and Devonport drew pictures about food and their city, which were then laminated and used for placemats at the Sister City Conference. Each delegate then took their mat home.
2012	New Years Eve – Lantern Festival.	Minamata donated a big lantern for Devonport’s New Years Eve Lantern Festival.
2012	Minamata Delegation visit.	Mr. and Mrs. Shoko Einaga from Minamata visit Devonport to help celebrate the inaugural event, New Years Eve event with the big lantern.
2013	Minamata Students Visit in March	24-28 March 2013 Students from Minamata visit Devonport. Group included 4 teens and 3 adults. Home stays. The adults had visited several times previously. Students went to St. Brendan Shaw School for 2 days.
2014	The Year of the Horse	The Devonport Sister Cities Association hosted an exhibition at the Library and Town Hall Theatre (D.E.C.C). Artwork from 4 Minamata and 9 Devonport local schools was displayed.
2016	Devonport Sister Cities Association Reunion Picnic	Devonport Sister Cities Association held a Picnic in Roundhouse Park inviting Devonportians who had visited Minamata to connect.
2016	Post Card Pictures	Devonport Sister Cities Association arranged for local schools to create post card sized artwork, placed in a photo album to be presented to be presented to the Mayor of Minamata.
2016	Devonport Delegation visit Minamata	7 April – 12 April 2016 8 Devonport Delegates – self funded, visit Minamata for the 20^th Anniversary. Group; Mayor Steve Martin, Susanne Martin, Pat and Grace Brown, Joan Andrews, Rosemarie Baker, Audrey Likar, Kay Nicholas,
2016	20 Cherry Blossoms planted on Formby Road	In preparations for the 20^th Anniversary 20 Cherry blossoms planted along Formby Road.
2017	Minamata Unearthed Time Capsule	27 February 2017 Minamata unearthed the time capsule from 2007. The ceremony opening the capsule included; Mayor Nishida, Mr. Settsu (the president of MIFA, the Minamata international friends association), and Aya Kakimoto. Aya attended the burying ceremony as a student in 2007.
2017	Minamata Delegation visits Devonport	18-21 March 2017 For the 20^th Anniversary a delegation from Minamata visit Devonport. Group included; 7 Minamata Council Representatives including Mayor Hiroshi Nishida, 1 Minamata International Friendship Association member (MIFA) Naomi Matsumoto, 7 Students, 1 Interpreter, 7 Community members including Shoko Einaga. Visit included; TIAGARRA, Devonport Surf Club, Julie Burgess, organised tour, students going to St Brendan Shaw for the day.
2018	Devonport High School Visits Minamata	20 April 2018 30 people (students and adults) from Devonport visit Minamata and the local college for the day. Home stayed.
2018 – 2020	Koinobori Project	The Koinobori Project \| Devonport City Council Koinobori Art exchange project. Exchange of decorated cotton koinobori kites, by Devonport and Minamata children.
2019	Sister Cities Cherry Blossoms move from Roundhouse Park to Victoria Parade	Due to Park developments – LIVING CITY Moved to beside the boat ramp Vicotria Parade. A seat installed, and utility box wrapped with Sister Cities images and information.
2020	Devonport High School Visits Minamata – Cancelled	Visit cancelled due to COVD-19
2021	International Show and Tell	Devonport City Council Project: Call put out to Devonport Community to take photos for a collaborative art exchange project, an International Show and Tell about our cities. Through each other’s eyes \| Devonport City Council
2021	Screening of movie Minamata	24 November 2021 Devonport Sister Cities Association worked with North West Film Society to screen the movie Minamata.
2023	Harmony Day Event	Event run by Devonport City Council in Market Square. Devonport Sister Cities Association ran a community activity: Origami
2023	Through each other’s eyes exhibition at Gallery	Through each other’s eyes \| Devonport City Council Exhibition of photos from Minamata and Devonport displayed in the Devonport Regional Gallery.
2023	Swift Parrot School Holiday activity at Gallery	Devonport Regional Gallery hosted a school holiday activity where school aged children crafted “flying” swift parrots that were sent to Minamata school children.
2023	Keiro no Hi . Respect for the Aged Day	Devonport Sister Cities Association worked with local school children on a Respect for the Aged Day project that was sent to a Minamata Primary School.
2024	Taiko Drumming knowledge exchange	July North West Tasmanian Taiko Drumming Group – Hikaru Daiko are connected online with Minamata Taiko Drumming group. They exchange music and agree to learn a song written by the other group.
2025	Harmony Day	Event run by Welcome Cultural Services and Devonport City Council. Location: Haines Park Devonport Sister Cities Association ran an activity: Year of the Snake.

Related Information

Print This Page