The newly christened Bega Commemorative Civic Centre hosted a civic reception for our friends from sister city Littleton, Colorado, on Thursday night.
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Around 90 invited guests enjoyed the first tasty dishes prepared in the new civic centre’s function kitchen as well as entertainment from Geoff and David Willis’s Sapphire Coast Big Band, singer Liam McManus and several presentations on the valued relationship between the two regions.
There was also an exchange of gifts, with the Littleton delegation presented with NSW and Australian flags to take home with them, as well as a large carved wood clock – if they can find a spot for that in their luggage!
In return, the Littleton visitors presented quilted wall hangings to the Bega Valley Shire Council and Bega Littleton Citizens Exchange group
Special guests at the civic dinner included president of Bega Littleton Citizens Exchange Andrew Warby, Bega Valley Mayor Michael Britten as well as several councillors, BVSC general manager Leanne Barnes and staff members, Parliamentary Secretary for the Illawarra and South Coast Gareth Ward MP, Labor candidate for Eden-Monaro Mike Kelly, and Barry Wilson, president of the International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors.
The dinner was held in honour of a delegation of visitors from Bega’s sister city Littleton, who have been enjoying a 10-day stay in our region visiting many of the attractions across the whole shire.
They took part in a traditional Australian Indigenous smoke ceremony and cultural lessons at Tathra Public School earlier in the week and have had tours of the Bega Cheese factory and local dairy farms among other tourist highlights.
Bega Cheese director Max Roberts was also a guest of honour at the civic dinner and he gave a presentation on the growth and future of the billion-dollar company whose roots are in a small town co-op.
Houstoun Waring student ambassador Gabriella Ahles also gave a presentation, taking guests on a tour of her home town of Littleton and her favourite spots on the main street.
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