Matt & Sandy are taking a sabbatical year and will be away from Dawbuts from 15 September 2024 to 01 September 2025. During this time, they will be based in Imabari, Ehime Prefecture, Japan. The lab work at Dawbuts will continue on under the guidance of Andrew, and the extensive experience of Phil and the rest of the team.
Why Japan?
Matt grew up in Cowra, NSW and attended Cowra High School. During his early years he heard stories of the Prisoner of War camps and the breakout that occurred on 08 AUG 1944, when 231 Japanese prisoners and 5 Australian soldiers were killed. This had a profound impact on him, particularly the stories of reconciliation and peacemaking that followed the breakout.
In February 1979, Matt traveled to Seikei High School, Tokyo as the 9th exchange student from Cowra. During his year away, he learned the language and made lifelong friends. After prac work at a veterinary clinic in Chitose, Hokkaido in 1986, he went again in 1989, this time to Sapporo to do his PhD in veterinary parasitology at Hokkaido University. Following their marriage in 1990, Sandy joined Matt in Sapporo and lived a busy life, including having Michi (1992) and Sam (1994) in Japan. Maire (1996) was born in Queensland.
After completing his PhD, Matt worked at the Australian Embassy in Tokyo for a year as a Scientific Officer. He has continued to travel to Japan for work and pleasure.
Why Imabari?
Imabari is located on the north-west tip of the island of Shikoku. It is a city of 150,000 people, with shipbuilding, textiles, forestry, tiles and fishing the main industries. It is also home to Shikoku’s only vet school, at Okayama University of Science. Matt & Sandy will live on an island called Ohshima, off the coast of Imabari, but connected by a bridge. It is a great place to ride a bike.
What do you do on sabbatical?
As well as projects at Okayama and Hokkaido universities, Matt & Sandy will be participating in community activities including Imabari Rotary Club, local farms and the International Friendship Organisation. Sandy is particularly interested in furthering her knowledge of pottery, cloth-dyeing and painting, while Matt intends to catch up with old friends, make new ones and spend time learning more about forest care.
Sayonara Party
Matt & Sandy greatly appreciate the wonderful show of support from the people who showed up to their Sayonara Party on 31 August 2024. Or maybe everyone was just making sure they were actually going??
They departed for Japan on 15 Sept 2024. First stop is Osaka, then on to Imabari in Ehime Prefecture, Shikoku.
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