The COVID-19 pandemic has caused the planned 50 year anniversary celebrations of the Cowra-Seikei Exchange program.
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Despite this setback 1978 exchange student Noriko Oka has shared with Cowra Guardian readers her fondness of the program.
"My dear families in Australia"
Mr and Mrs A J Oliver visited the Principal of Seikei High School, Mr Minoru Kurihara on the 2nd of October 1969.
It was the very first time they met, however at the end of the meeting, they shook hands and agreed that they were going to start an exchange student program between Cowra High School and Seikei High School.
Mr Oliver wrote out an agreement on a notepad and handed it to the Principal who passed it to the Head Teacher of Seikei High School, Mr Choji Yokote.
Choji Yokote was my father.
Nine years later, I was selected as the 10th exchange student and arrived in Australia in May 1978.
I had two lovely host families, the Hopkins family and the Prosser family.
Each family had a daughter who had been to Seikei on the exchange program.
Jennifer Rowston (née Hopkins) in 1977 and Robynne Prosser was at Seikei High School when I arrived in Cowra.
The Yokote family hosted Jennifer for eight months.
Jennifer, my sister and I walked to Seikei together, I shared a six tatami mat room, laughed a lot while trying to understand each other's language.
I have visited Cowra during this time, Jennifer with her family, Robynne's sister Kathy and her son have visited Japan and stayed with me.
We have shed tears on sad news, shared joy just like ordinary family members would do.
I have been an active member of the exchange committee at Seikei High School for some 12 years, being the Chair for four.
Every month, some members of the committee will take the current student out sightseeing in Tokyo (eg museums, temples, gardens, cultural attractions in other districts etc, to give them an opportunity to broaden their language skills and enjoy the daily living of Japanese people.
We also have a welcome and farewell function for each student.
When I lived in Cowra as an exchange student, Cowra people looked after me as a member of their family and community. I am really grateful for their friendship and help that they never hesitated to give me. Now I find it a great pleasure to pass on the goodwill that Mr Oliver and Mr Kurihara started that day in the Principal's office at Seikei High School, such a long time ago in 1969.
I hope in another 50 years, arrangements will be made to celebrate the 100 year celebration.
Noriko Oka
