City of Cockburn Awarded Japanese Foreign Minster's Commendation

July 22, 2016

Consulate-General of Japan in Perth

City of Cockburn Awarded Japanese Foreign Minster's Commendation

On July 22, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan announced that the City of Cockburn has been awarded the Foreign Minister’s Commendation as a group recipient, in recognition of its ongoing commitment to commemorating Hiroshima Day, and for the promotion of mutual understanding between Japan and Australia.

Each year, the City of Cockburn holds a Tree Planting Ceremony on Hiroshima Day, commemorating August 6, 1945, the day when an atomic bomb was dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. The first of these was held at Peace Park on Spearwood Avenue, but as the space became fully planted out over the years, other locations around Cockburn have been used. The Tree Planting Ceremony aims to educate school students of the City of Cockburn about the misery of past wars, while praying for a peaceful world free of war. Hundreds of trees have been planted by students and members of the City, together with the Consulate-General of Japan, and have become a symbol of the cultural, economic, tourism, and education relationships enjoyed between Australia and Japan.

This year will be the 31st Tree Planting Ceremony Commemorating Hiroshima Day. The Acting Consul-General, Mr Toshio Ida will take this opportunity to present the Mayor, His Worship Logan Howlett JP, with the Foreign Minister’s Commendation at this ceremony in recognition of the city’s commitment to building understanding and friendship between Western Australia and Japan.
The City of Cockburn has also been a member of the Mayors for Peace movement since September 2011, joining neighbouring Fremantle, to promote the solidarity of cities toward the total abolition of nuclear weapons to bring about lasting world peace.

The Tree Planting Ceremony and presentation of the Commendation will be held at Dixon Park, Hurford St (Hamilton Hill) on August 5 at 9:30am.