Consul-General visits Dubbo and Gilgandra

Japanese Consul-General Nobuhito Hobo paid a special visit to Dubbo City and Gilgandra Shire in central NSW, on April 14 and 15. In Dubbo he visited Mayor Greg Matthews, while in Gilgandra, he attended the opening ceremony for a special dental surgery.

Minokamo City and Dubbo have been sister cities since 1989. In 2002, a Japanese garden was built in Dubbo by gardeners and carpenters from Minokamo City. Mr Hobo visited Mr Matthews to express his gratitude towards residents of Dubbo active in the intercity exchange. The two also talked with councillors at a Japanese tea house. Mr Matthews expressed his hope for deeper interaction with Japan, especially through trade and tourism.
Japanese dentist Dr Michiko Raimoto makes the 700km drive from Sydney to Gilgandra Shire (population 3000) every week. The local community and councillors were so impressed that they lobbied the Federal and State governments for funds to establish a dental clinic with accommodation. Mr Hobo participated in the opening ceremony, praising Dr Raimoto's skills and patient-centred attitude while also acknowledging the warm reception she had received from the community.