The Lord Mayor of Brisbane wants North Ayrshire to improve the Largs link.
Using the legacy of Largs astronomer, soldier, and benefactor Sir Thomas Brisbane, a letter from Brisbane City Council in Australia has been presented to North Ayrshire in an effort to foster stronger educational and cultural ties.
In order to highlight Sir Thomas Brisbane’s hometown when the city hosts the international sporting extravaganza, Brisbane, Australia, is preparing to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2032. To that end, the city hopes to strengthen its historical ties to Largs.
Independent councillor Ian Murdoch sees this as an amazing opportunity to grow links between Largs and North Ayrshire and Brisbane, with the opening day of the Brisbane Olympics falling on Sir Thomas’s birthday.
Councillor Ian Murdoch holding a letter to NAC from Adrian Schrinner, a major at Brisbane City Pictures: Newsquest
“I first met David Muir of the Clem Jones Foundation in 2019, and I was invited to another meeting with him in June of this year,” Cllr. Murdoch stated during a recent council meeting. Alan Hill, the councillor, was also present.
“Juliette Bentley, from Brisbane, Australia, who works to strengthen the educational ties between Brisbane, Largs, and North Ayrshire, and I also attended another meeting with her.
“They are both very involved in trying to revive the Brisbane Observatory, which was located in the grounds of Brisbane House in Largs, which is why these meetings are taking place. From 1821 to 1825, he served as the governor of Australia’s New South Wales.
“Sir Thomas happened to be one of the most famous astronomers in the world, and Brisbane, the city in Australia, was named after him, and not a lot of people know that.
“I am in favour of the NAC forging closer ties between Largs and North Ayrshire as well as Brisbane, Australia. The fact that the Olympics in Brisbane will begin on Sir Thomas Brisbane’s birthday in 2032 means that Brisbane and its history with Largs will be in the spotlight globally.”
“We ought to value and encourage that in addition to educational connections.
“This is not just about Largs and its history, but it is about North Ayrshire as a whole, and I’d like to see Juliette Bentley put in touch with the head of the education department regarding this, as it will have educational and tourism benefits.”
Cllr Murdoch presented the letter from Brisbane City Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner to Provost Anthea Dickson at the meeting.
Provost Dickson said: “Thank you very much Cllr Murdoch we will take that message on board. We are very grateful to receive it and we will look to see how we take this forward.”
The letter from the Brisbane City Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner stated: “I send my greetings and best wishes to you via David Muir, chair of thee Clem Jones Group, who has a deep knowledge of the links forged with Largs by the former Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Clem Jones.
“Brisbane is a city brimming with opportunity and welcomes visitors from across the world to come and experience our fantastic lifestyle for themselves.
“Sir Thomas Makdougall Brisbane, the Scottish-born astronomer who made a lasting impact on the world, is the reason that Largs and Brisbane, despite their 16,000 km distance, share a foundational history.
“That the relationship with Largs endures to this day gives us great pleasure.
“I hope many of you may be able to visit Brisbane, either in the lead up to the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games or being hosted by our city or during the Games themselves.”
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