City turns on sisterly charm for visitors

By Kelly Yates
CASEY received a visit from its sister cities, Berwick-upon-Tweed, England, and Springfield Ohio, USA, as part of Casey’s Global Friendships program.
Berwick-upon-Tweed mayor Lance Robson, mayoress Sandra Evans, deputy mayor Hazel Bettison and consort Frank Bettison were all in attendance with Al and Sheila Wansing representing Springfield Ohio.
City of Casey mayor Janet Halsall said the visit gave Casey residents, councillors and council officers the chance to receive updates on what’s happening in the sister cities.
She said the sister city relationships aimed to provide a forum for cultural, economic and educationalinterchange between communities.
“It encourages friendship, co-operation and understanding,” Cr Halsall said.
“These relationships are important for the whole community.”
Councillors discussed differences in policies as well as making connections for possible youth exchanges between the cities.
Cr Halsall said the upcoming Connolly Games was a perfect example of the sister city relationship.
Forty of Casey’s young sports people will be heading to Springfield Ohio to compete in this year’s James B Connolly Games.
“A similar exchange took place in 2006 when a group of young athletes came to the City of Casey for the Edwin Flack Games”, Cr Halsall said.