Origami efforts see 6000 paper cranes take flight

In Japanese culture, the crane is a symbol of freedom, and tradition holds that when 1000 origami paper cranes are made, one wish will be granted.

In light of March's devastating natural disasters in Japan, the Toowoomba Japanese Group, in conjunction with council's Library Services and Customer Service Centre, coordinated a community crane-making blitz that saw not just 1000, but over 6500 paper cranes made.

Gathered and strung into lots of 1000, the cranes were presented by Mayor Peter Taylor to the Japanese Ambassador Mr Shigekazu Sato, at a special fundraising dinner in April.

On behalf of TRC, the Mayor expressed heartfelt sympathy for Japan, noting our own region's tragic events had given residents great empathy for Japan's plight.

A set of 1000 cranes now sits in the Japanese Consul's Brisbane office while a further 1000 cranes are displayed in the Mayor's office.

This fund-raising effort reciprocates in a small way support shown to our region by residents of our sister city Takatsuki who donated $30,000 to the flood appeal in January.

Young People's Librarian Liz Derouet thanked the region's 18 schools that helped make the origami cranes.

"A simple email request resulted in a mammoth 6500 cranes being made for the dinner which raised approximately $3000 for the Japanese people in their hour of need."