contributed
Canterbury-Bankstown Council’s mayor Khal Asfour was in Cobar last week to hand over a $5,000 donation to Cobar Shire.
Cr Asfour made a quick trip to Cobar and Broken Hill last week along with his general manager Matthew Stewart and other Canterbury-Bankstown staff members.
Cr Asfour told The Cobar Weekly the donation towards drought relief was prompted by their long sister city relationship with Cobar, a relationship that he hopes will continue to grow and strengthen.
“Canterbury and Cobar have had a sister city relationship for quite a while,” Cr Asfour said.
Since the merger of the City of Canterbury and City of Bankstown councils in 2016, following a Local Government review, Cr Asfour said the council now has two sister cities in Cobar and Broken Hill.
“When I was elected as mayor, I thought it was important that we keep the ties going and that we came out and paid a visit.”
Cr Asfour said he moved a mayoral minute in August calling for his council to make the donation to go towards drought relief.
“We understand that our country cousins need some assistance especially in times of drought and wanted to support our sister cities,” he said.
Cr Asfour said it was also good to catch up again with Cobar’s mayor Lilliane Brady, who he recently met at the Local Government Conference in Albury.
He said he very much enjoyed the “country hospitality” he and his staff received during their visit to the west.
Cr Asfour said he hoped that more Canterbury-Bankstown staff and councillors will visit Cobar next year.
“It will be a real eye opener for some of our councillors that live in the city,” he said.
“Obviously the challenges between two councils are different but it’s important that we maintain and strengthen our relationship.
“Moving forward, sharing knowledge and expertise helps to build capacity in our respective councils.”
He said he hoped their donation will help Cobar rural families who are doing it tough in this drought.
