Casey scoops pool in Sister Cities awards

By Jim Mynard
CASEY community groups have scooped the pool in the Sister Cities Australia awards.
Casey won three awards: Community Involvement, Assistance to a Sister City and Sports.
The community involvement award was for the schools friendship program with schools in Ermera, East Timor.
The Casey submission said the program had enriched the educational and personal experiences of teachers and students in Australia and in East Timor.
This was done through sharing in each other’s culture, lifestyle and language.
Communication and fund raising led to supplies of materials needed to rebuild East Timorese classrooms, including the supply of water pipes, furniture, and stationery being sent to the new nation.
Casey schools were also involved in sending letters and helping to supply soccer boots to schools in East Timor.
The Casey Friends of Ermera was also involved in winning the Assistance to a Sister City, award, which involved a teacher exchange program.
English language teacher Felix de Jesus Martins from Ponilala, Ermera District, undertook a professional development program in conjunction with Casey schools.
Mr Martins led a group of volunteer teachers who established a school in a church hall in Ermera after the destruction of their school facilities.
Three members of the Friends of Ermera Committee visited the makeshift school in July 2005 and were inspired by the dedication of teachers and enthusiasm of students to have the renewed opportunity to learn.
Casey won the sport award for its 2004 visit to the Connolly Games in Springfield, Ohio.
This involved a contingent of 89 people, including 67 young sports people who competed against a strong team of sports people in their American host city.