Sister Council

Year of the Outback bond now permanent

To celebrate the Year of the Outback in 2002, a special Sister council relationship was formed between Campbelltown City Council in Western Sydney and Coonamble Shire. This friendship was such a success that it has been extended beyond the Year of the Outback and is now permanent.

For information about the committee, please call the Tourism Development Manager on (02) 6827 1900

For more information about Campbelltown, visit www.campbelltown.nsw.gov.au

 

The story so far

In February 2002, Campbellton City Council selected Coonamble as its Year of the Outback Sister City for its outback character, indigenous history and accessibility. A program of events was developed between the Councils, with the first exchange activity taking place in May.
 
The program between Coonamble and Campbelltown from 2002 to date includes:

Two staff members from Campbelltown visited Coonamble Show for a two day display to promote the Sister City program and Campbelltown, focusing on tourism, leisure and the Campbelltown community. The display attracted wide enthusiasm and interest from the Coonamble community and provided an excellent opportunity to form links with relevant individual and community representatives involved in the coordination of the program.

An environmental display was held in Campbelltown (during Western Sydney Environment Week) that focussed on Coonamble, the Macquarie Marshes, the Warrumbungle’s and the Pilliga State Forest. Various environmental groups in Coonamble supplied material and the display was promoted widely across Campbelltown to encourage the community and schools to visit the display.

Guests from Coonamble attend the Campbelltown City Mayoral Ball.

A Campbelltown vs Coonamble Rugby Match which featured local rugby groups from both areas was held in Coonamble.

Campbelltown Week in Coonamble which featured a number of events, activities and displays, as well as a staff exchange program developed. Coonamble Week in Campbelltown which featured a photographic exhibition at the Campbelltown Visitor Information Centre ‘Quondong’. The exhibition was launched at a Mayoral Reception and attendants included the Mayor of Coonamble.

A special commemorative bus trip and tour was organised for Campbelltown residents to visit Coonamble for the Coonamble Gold Cup. Also attending the tour were delegates of Campbelltown City Council. The tour was sold and promoted through the Campbelltown Visitor Information Centre to interested locals in Campbelltown and was a successful trip that encouraged tourists to visit Coonamble.

An art exchange program was held which showcased artists from each Sister City area. A delegation from Coonamble participated in Campbelltown City’s Festival of Fisher’s Ghost celebrations.

Campbelltown visual artist Falaka Yimar visited Coonamble and conducted a full week of workshops, presentations and visits to homesteads. The visit provided young students of Coonamble with the opportunity to learn printmaking, drawing and painting techniques, with six workshops conducted at local schools and a youth centre.

A delegation from Campbelltown visited Coonamble to coincide with the 150th anniversary of Coonamble Shire.

An art display was held in Campbelltown in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the Campbelltown City Festival of Fisher’s Ghost.

Several delegations from Campbelltown have visited Coonamble for the Coonamble Rodeo and Campdraft, the largest combined event in the Southern Hemisphere. 

Visit by the Campbelltown Mayor, Cr Aaron Rule and General Manager, Paul Tosi to Coonamble in June 2007, five years since the Relationship was established. The aim of the visit was to explore opportunities to further enhance the Sister City Relationship over the next five years and discuss a partnership agreement.

October 2006- Coonamble commits to sending an annual display of local art to Campbelltown for the Festival of Fishers Ghost celebrations. In 2008 this was moved to the Campbelltown Arts Centre.

August 2007 staff exchange visit from Coonamble employee, Matthew Cock, Environmental Health and Building Surveyor Cadet.

September 2008 a partnership agreement signed between the two councils which includes regular activities, increased community links and annual sponsorship by Coonamble of the Festival of Fishers Ghost and by Campbelltown of the Coonamble Rodeo and Campdraft.