Conferral of the Order of the Rising Sun, Silver Rays, on Mr Ronald James Murray AM, Honorary Patron of the Australia-Japan Society of the ACT
2023/11/15
Commemorative photo with (L-R) Commissioner Smyth, Chair of the Canberra-Nara Sister City Committee, Narelle Hargreaves, Ambassador SUZUKI, Mr Murray and his wife, and Mayor NAKAGAWA
On 6 November 2023, a conferral ceremony was held for Honorary Patron of the Australia-Japan Society, ACT Inc., Mr Ronald James Murray AM, who received the Order of the Rising Sun, Silver Rays, as part of the 2023 Spring Conferment of Decorations. This award recognises Mr Murray’s work in promoting regional exchange and mutual understanding between Japan and Australia.
Before guests including the Mayor of Nara City, Mr NAKAGAWA Gen, ACT Government Commissioner for International Engagement, Mr Brendan Smyth, members of the Canberra-Nara Sister City Committee, and members of the Australia-Japan Society of the ACT, Ambassador SUZUKI praised Mr Murray’s work in establishing the sister-city relationship, as well as his more than 40 years of support for the Australia-Japan Society and grassroots exchange. (Ambassador SUZUKI’s speech is available here.) Mr Murray then returned the compliment in his speech.
Before guests including the Mayor of Nara City, Mr NAKAGAWA Gen, ACT Government Commissioner for International Engagement, Mr Brendan Smyth, members of the Canberra-Nara Sister City Committee, and members of the Australia-Japan Society of the ACT, Ambassador SUZUKI praised Mr Murray’s work in establishing the sister-city relationship, as well as his more than 40 years of support for the Australia-Japan Society and grassroots exchange. (Ambassador SUZUKI’s speech is available here.) Mr Murray then returned the compliment in his speech.
Japanese sake received from the Nara Delegation
Nara pickles (Nara-dzuke) received from the Nara Delegation
Members of the Nara Delegation alongside representatives from the ACT Government
On the back wall is a painting depicting Nara, ‘Yamato-ji’, on loan from the National Gallery of Australia
The original Sister-City Proclamation and Nara City’s tourism mascot, Shikamaro-kun