The Toowoomba Japanese Group are encouraging locals to help make 1,000 cranes and present them to the Japanese Consul General at a four-course Asian-European degustation fundraising dinner to be held on April 7 at Veraison Restaurant. All money raised on the night will be donated to funds to support the disaster relief efforts in earthquake and tsunami-ravaged Japan.

The crane has long been a symbol of honour, loyalty and peace in Japan and to fold 1,000 paper cranes is traditionally thought to grant one wish, such as long life or recovery from illness or injury. The Toowoomba Japanese Group is co-ordinating the preparation of the paper cranes as a gesture of friendship and support to Japan.

All members of the public are invited to make a paper crane at the Toowoomba City Library or the Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery where materials and folding instructions are available.

The fundraising night on Thursday 7 April 2011 will be held at Veraison Restaurant in Toowoomba and will be a cultural evening with demonstrations of crafts such as origami and calligraphy, various martial arts and a parade of traditional clothing.

Dinner tickets are $80 per person and must be pre-purchased at Veraison by Sunday 3 April 2011. Numbers are strictly limited – bookings and enquiries to Veraison, 205 Margaret St. Ph. (07) 4638 5909.

This will be an opportunity for locals to sample Japanese culture in Toowoomba and give lthe chance to provide assistance to the 500,000+ Japanese men, women and children affected by the earthquake and tsunami.

Donations can also be made to the Red Cross Japan Appeal online at www.redcross.org.au or at any branch of the Commonwealth Bank.

The Toowoomba Japan Club is an informal group of people wishing to learn or practise Japanese language and discover Japanese culture. For more information visit https://sites.google.com/site/toowoombajapanesegroup

Further information from
Jeff Brady – 0458 395 924 or
Simone Mooketsi – 0458 594 535