The trip was organised and funded by the people of Dunedin, and focused on supporting the City of Dunedin Pipeband at the World Pipeband Championships in Glasgow this weekend.
The group also made time to visit Stirling and celebrate the ties between the cities – Dunedin was founded in 1878 by two Scots, John Douglas and James Somerville, and many people from the Stirling area emigrated there in the 19th century to work in agriculture and orange farming.
Links between the communities were strengthened in 1964 when they became ‘sister cities’ and they continue to flourish, with more than 30 residents and officials, led by Dunedin Mayor Julie Ward Bujalski, arriving in Stirling this week as part of their visit to Scotland.
They were greeted by Provost Watterson and they also met with Stirling Council officials and other local organisations for an exchange of ideas in areas such as culture and tourism, education and active travel.
Attractions
Provost Watterson said: “Stirling celebrates its 900th anniversary this year and we also hold dear our 60 year relationship with the City of Dunedin and its people.
“I was delighted to welcome Mayor Bujalski, her colleagues, and Dunedin residents to our wonderful city – and wish them well for the World Pipeband Championships. Many of them have visited before and it was another great opportunity for us to show off our world class attractions and beautiful local landscape.
“I know the City of Dunedin officials also appreciated meeting with our own staff and exchanging their experiences across a range of interests that are important and relevant to both our communities, even though we’re more than 4,000 miles apart.”
The visitors from Dunedin have enjoyed a tour of Scotland and, during their time in Stirling, tried their hand at tartan weaving at the Radical Weavers social enterprise in Murray Place, before meeting with local artist David Galletly at the Stirling 900 mural he designed at the square next to the station.
They also visited Forth Valley College, enjoyed a tour provided by the Smith Art Gallery, and met with members of the Stirling Chamber of Commerce.
Mayor Bujalski said: “I’m so proud to have our two Scottish cultures collide and that 39 of our residents and business owners wanted to come to Stirling to show the love we feel for Scotland, its people and traditions.
“We hope to advance our relationship still further through areas such as music and economics, working with officers at Stirling Council and the Chamber of Commerce. We’d also love to invite the good people of Stirling to come and visit Dunedin anytime – the welcome we give will be as warm as the one we’ve received here.”