Community
17 May, 2024
Japanese friendship celebrations
THE Miura Friendship Garden in Warrnambool’s Albert Park will be open to the public tomorrow (Saturday) for a special occasion.
Warrnambool Community Garden will open the garden from 10am to 3pm to celebrate over 30 years of the sister city relationship and the Japanese garden.
A range of activities have been planned for the day including games, activities, food and entertainment, inviting the community to explore, learn and immerse themselves in a blend of Japanese and First Nations cultures represented in the garden.
Deputy convenor of the Warrnambool Community Garden and past Miura Warrnambool cultural exchange representative, Courtney Mathew, said it was important to acknowledge the deep connection Warrnambool and Miura share.
“I spent several years living in Miura teaching Japanese and everyone over there knows where Warrnambool is,” Ms Mathew said.
“There is a deep respect towards our community and this event is just a small way to celebrate this ongoing reciprocal relationship.
“So many people have directly benefited from this international connection over the past 30 years, whether travelling over there on one of the many visits or hosting students during a homestay.”
Ms Mathew said the group wanted to celebrate this connection and make sure it lasts for another 30 years.
“The Japanese garden predates the community garden by a long way so it’s a pity that it doesn’t get much visitation,” she said.
“It’s a beautiful and serene place for reflection so we hope that by inviting people in, they can appreciate the significance of the site.”
Visitors can look forward to a day filled with interactive activities that celebrate the essence of the Miura Friendship Garden.
Live performances will share the sounds and rhythms of both Japanese and First Nations traditions including Yidaki healing and information session from Levi Geebung.
Japanese games like karuta and kendama will provide challenging entertainment and visitors can try their hand at making tsukimi dango, a delicious rice sweet enjoyed during the autumn harvest festival.
Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arranging, will be showcased through demonstrations that blend native plants with traditional techniques.
A seaweed showcase will offer insights into the diverse uses and flavours of this natural resource.
Visitors can also join the weaving circle to start their own basket-making project, and explore the award-winning bush food garden, sampling the unique flavours.
Guests can indulge in the creation of onigiri (rice balls) with bush food flavours, savour the delicate gyoza dumplings and sushi, and warm up with nourishing miso soup.
