MATTERS OF INTEREST

KODOMO NO HI FESTIVAL

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (15:21): Earlier last month I had the pleasure of representing the Premier, the Hon. Jay Weatherill, at the Kodomo no Hi Festival held at Cowandilla Primary School. President of the Japan Australia Friendship Association, Mr Mike Dunphy, welcomed all to the special day. The member for Ashford, the Hon. Steph Key, was present as were Mr Steven Georganas, the federal member for Hindmarsh, and the Hon. Jing Lee. The Consul-General of Japan from Melbourne, Mr Hidenobu Sobashima, had also travelled to Adelaide for the occasion.

I understand that 5 May in Japan is a national holiday celebrating Kodomo no Hi or Children's Day. It is an opportunity for families to rejoice in their children's wellbeing. In South Australia, I am told, it has become the largest volunteer community-based Japanese festival in Australia.

Cowandilla school was abuzz with people. The program ranged from judo demonstrations and other martial arts to drummers, artists, a number of workshops and many fabulous food stalls. The festival allowed people attending to not just see beautiful works of art and craft but also hands-on participation, whether it was to try on a kimono or being a conductor with a train simulator.

Whilst South Australia has had links with Japan for over 100 years, this year is a very special year for South Australia and Okayama Prefecture as we celebrate the 20^th anniversary of our relationship. Sister state relationships between jurisdictions help to also establish exchanges at both the community and individual level. Exchanges at the tertiary, primary and secondary school level are active and play an important role in promoting educational links. Later this year, I understand, South Australia will welcome a group of visitors from Okayama Prefecture government in recognition of the 20^th anniversary of the sister state relationship.

One of the exchanges that occurred just after the establishment of the sister state relationship in the early 1990s was the Okayama City youth goodwill study visits. I have fond memories of being a homestay host family on at least three occasions during the time we had the youth exchanges between our two jurisdictions. In a previous public service life, my husband was one of the Youth SA organisers for the youth exchange visits held over those years. Being involved as a family was very rewarding and established lifelong friendships.

I should also acknowledge that JAFA takes active initiatives to support communities in need. As an example, after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami they donated the proceeds to the Japan Red Cross to assist in the reconstruction of those devastated communities. We heard that they subsequently set up the JAFA Disaster Relief Volunteer project to enable volunteers to go to Japan to assist the worst affected communities. We were able to view special photo collages taken during that time by volunteers. These were interspersed with a number of artworks and they provided a very powerful reminder of that sad time but, more so, brought the human aspect of the disaster to the forefront.

I pay tribute to the work of the Japan Australia Friendship Association in organising the festival. JAFA works with the state government to promote exchanges with Okayama. JAFA arranged a photo exhibition for the festival with submissions from residents of South Australia and Okayama and welcomed members of a citizen's choir from Akaiwa City in Okayama Prefecture who participated in the festival.

Mr Mike Dunphy concluded his remarks by saying that he hoped the festival would foster a spirit of inclusiveness and tolerance within the community and for everyone to enjoy the variety of performances, exhibitions and demonstrations that were being presented that day. My congratulations to Mike Dunphy and his team for their commitment to the association and to Kodomo no Hi Day. I also echo the words of our Lieutenant-Governor, Mr Hieu Van Le AO, who remarked:

This festival is also a great example of what can be achieved when a small but energetic group works closely with local residents, schools, international students and individuals with an interest in a particular culture, in this case Japanese. It is showcasing multiculturalism in the best way possible.