City slickers are packing their bags for a weekend in the bush.
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A delegation of almost 200 people will leave Sydney on Friday to travel to Quirindi for three days of activities amid the drought.
Blacktown City Council is funding the community events, which will be hosted by its sister city Liverpool Plains Shire Council (LPSC).
The delegation of councillors, council staff, students, sports teams, youth leaders and performers from Blacktown and overseas to take part on the community events, which will focus on youth and drought relief.
“Visits like these are the best way to support the local economy,” LPSC deputy mayor Paul Moules said.
“The prolonged drought is certainly taking its toll on everyone in our shire and this weekend will be sure to boost our spirits as well as our businesses,” he said.
Cr Moules said LPSC had enjoyed a long and productive sister city relationship with Blacktown.
“We sincerely appreciate Blacktown City Council’s support during the current drought and the donation of a water tanker was incredibly generous,” he said.
Visits like these are the best way to support the local economy
- LPSC deputy mayor Paul Moules
The city delegation will be led by Blacktown city mayor Stephen Bali MP.
“The visit and all the activities planned for the weekend will provide a much-needed boost to the local economy and further strengthen our sister city relationship,” councillor Bali said.
“It is a privilege to be able to provide support, friendship and tangible assistance during such dire times for the Liverpool Plains community.”
Activities will include the Hangi Youth Games, International Youth Connect Forum, Hangi in the Country and children’s concert with Play School’s Alex Papps.
A basketball team will be flown in from Wellington to participate in the youth games and ambassadors from Korea, New Zealand and the Philippines will fly in to participate in the youth forum, along with key note speaker Jessica Watson who became a household name when she sailed solo around the world in 2010.
These major events will be held on October 27, with the youth games to be held at Longfield Park and Quirindi High School auditorium from 9am, and youth forum at the Catholic Church hall from 10am.
At Quirindi Royal Theatre, the free children’s concert with Alex Papps starts at 2pm, followed later by the Hangi in the Country dinner and Q&A with Jessica Watson from 6.30pm. The dinner will be prepared by Maori chefs for 400 people.