Cultural Exchange to Inagawa

City of Ballarat Citywide Services staff member, Shane Jeffrey will travel to Inagawa, Japan this year as part of Council’s annual Inagawa - Ballarat reciprocal officer exchange program.  

The officer exchange program was established over a decade ago as part of Council’s Sister City program with Inagawa. The exchange operates annually, with a Council officer travelling to Inagawa-cho, Japan to undertake a project in their particular area of expertise. A return visit by an officer from Inagawa will be hosted by Ballarat in 2013.

This experience will give Shane the opportunity to work within the Inagawa Town Hall and live with a Japanese family for two weeks. As part of the visit, Shane will run an amenity tree care project which will compare how the City of Ballarat and Inagawa Council both care for their tree and garden assets.

The project will consist of meeting with Inagawa Council staff to share Shane’s knowledge on the methods used in Ballarat and preparing a report upon his return. Shane will also have the opportunity to visit various other operations of Inagawa Council, as well meet with previous Inagawa exchange officers.

Shane applied for the exchange program because of his interest in Japan, its culture and people.

“Over the past two years, my wife and I have played host to 10 Japanese students, including two from Inagawa.”

“I look forward to catching up with the two Inagawa students we hosted and also to meeting their families while I am there.”

“I hope to learn a great deal about Japanese culture, strengthen the sister city relationship and make some new friends.”