Fudeko Reekie, who helped to tie two cities together forever, has been honoured with an OAM.
If it wasn’t for Fudeko Reekie, Bathurst’s sister city relationship with Okhuma might not have existed. For decades, she has been committed to building ties between the two cities and fostering an appreciation of Japanese culture within the Bathurst community. Fudeko also established a sister school relationship between All Saints’ and Yachiyo Shoin Gakuen in Chiba, Japan, in 1992. Fudeko facilitated cultural exchanges for students and teachers from All Saints’ and this sister school relationship has been continued with the new Scots All Saints College. There is an exchange visit planned for September this year by Scots All Saints students and staff.
Fudeko was a teacher at All Saints’ for 35 years, teaching Japanese and Art. Around the same time Fudeko started teaching at All Saints’, Japanese tourists were frequenting the Bathurst area, and she was called upon to greet them, show them around and act as an interpreter. She became so well-known and respected that in 1989, when Okhuma was looking to establish a sister city relationship in Australia, representatives travelled to Bathurst to speak to her, and she convinced them that Bathurst was the right location.
She continued to provide her support for the sister city relationship and played an important role when the Okhuma Garden was established on the Macquarie riverside. Okhuma sent staff over to assist with the project, and Fudeko would visit the site regularly, bringing sushi and tea and providing her interpreter services. She also assisted in sourcing the right materials for the monument, but admitted she did not actually lift the large sandstone blocks into position! This garden remains a special place for her. Fudeko has also been named a Living Legend and has a tree and plaque at the Okhuma Japanese Garden in her honour.
Fudeko has published numerous nonfiction books and textbooks, which continue to be used in schools today. She preserved her own story through the publication of her book, A Wonderful Life: My Memoir, in 2015. She was the author of Bathurst My City, which tells the story of significant buildings and landmarks in the region.
The book, which was printed in both English and Japanese, also contains pictures painted by her of these precious places. The books and paintings are part of her legacy in Bathurst, and so is the Japanese Centre she created on the All Saints’ Campus in 1992. In 2010, the Fudeko Reekie Language Centre was renamed to recognise her contributions to the College. At present, this building is the Scots All Saints Head of the Junior School office and Staff room. She calls this building ‘the most important legacy I am leaving’.
In addition to receiving an OAM, Fudeko was honoured by Japan with the Order of the Rising Sun in 2013 – this award is rarely given to people living outside Japan.
Mrs Memory Sanders
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