Gunnedahs sister city Lane Cove has decided to act as disastrous drought continues to cripple the shire.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
On Monday night at Lane Cove Councils meeting, the councillors decided they should reach out Gunnedah Shire Council to see how they can help.
Lane Cove mayor Pam Palmer said she would soon contact Gunnedah mayor Jamie Chaffey.
We do know youve got a disastrous drought. We are aware, so we suggested we link up again and build on that great bond weve had in the past, she said.
We value our sister city relationship and the history of it was as I understand that we got together originally over a drought relief concert That brought the two sisters together.
Some great disasters do bring people closer together and we do feel for people in Gunnedah. We would like to do something and Ill be speaking to the mayor about that.
Most people dont realise when there's a drought, its really tough and Lane Cove does have the means to lend a hand.
- Lane Cove councillor Andrew Zbik
The idea started with Lane Cove councillor Andrew Zbik who is married to former Gunnedah woman Bronwyn Deane.
Councillor Zbik said he initially raised the question around why Lane cove and Gunnedah are sister cities and a fortnight ago, he emailed the Lane Cove Councils general manager to ask the history of the sister city relationship and a report of what we can do.
Lane Cove adopted Gunnedah as its Friendship Town under an environmental initiative in late 2001, and a year later, the councils signed a sister city agreement at a drought aid concert.
[On Monday], we agreed to look into what we can do as a council, Mr Zbik said.
Most people in Lane Cove are oblivious to how bad the drought is at the moment. And my job as a councillor is to raise awareness.
READ MORE: The Big Dry draws help from our sister city
Ive been travelling to the area for 11 years and we were there just a month ago and Ive never seen it so dry. I was just driving home with Bronwyn and I said, Were meant to be sister cities for a reason... and this to me is an example as to why you have a sister city arrangement.
Im a city boy who married a country girl but Ive loved the last 11 years of travelling out to Gunnedah and the region and have gotten to know a lot of people out there and I think we city people definitely take for granted how food gets on our plate.
Most people dont realise when there's a drought, its really tough and Lane Cove does have the means to lend a hand.
READ ALSO:
- One local's offer to take a load off farmers | The Big Dry
- The Big Dry: Episode three podcast about the drought
- Gunnedah locals dig deep for drought fundraiser | The Big Dry
- CWA to offer 'moral support' to struggling farmers | The Big Dry
- MP hears fresh calls for freight subsidies | The Big Dry
- Reprieve from last resort for desperate sheep farmer | The Big Dry
