An international student exchange in 2025 is on the cards following a Grapevine Sister City visit to the Barossa.
Paul W. McCallum, Executive Director of the Grapevine Convention and Visitors Bureau, toured the region last week, meeting with local secondary schools and addressing the Sister Cities Advisory Committee for the first time.
"What the Sister City program really does is bring your own community together for a common cause, because everyone has something valuable to contribute,"Mr McCallum said.
"The most important thing is that you include a broad representation of your community, and the Barossa has assembled a really great committee.
"It's a great group and very diverse, as a Sister City Committee should be.
"Hats off to y'all for recognising the importance of bringing all aspects of the community together."
The committee includes community representatives Vanesa Lambert, Matt Hale, Ingrid Day, Carol Dadds and Louise Hickenbotham.
They are joined by organisational representatives Scott Hazeldine (Barossa Australia), Rolf Binder (Regional Development Australia), Bill Simons (Rotary Club of Barossa Valley), Michelle Schwarz (Faith Lutheran College) and Rick Lane (Nuriootpa High School), plus Council staff representatives Jo Moen, Jo Seabrook, Demi Henley, Janine Harding and presiding member The Barossa Council Mayor, Bim Lange.
Mayor Lange said it was exciting to see community-led initiatives already taking shape, focused on the four key areas of exchange programs, event volunteering, marketing and fundraising, and trade.
"We're genuinely excited to grow our arts, events and volunteering capacity, drawing on the knowledge of our Grapevine friends," Mayor Lange said.
Plans are already underway for a Grapevine visit to the Barossa in 2025, which is expected to include a student exchange contingent.