Balonne Shire Council has hosted a visit from the Chinese Consul-General of Brisbane, Dr Ruan Zongze, accompanied by a delegation from the city’s St George Chinese Community Memorial Committee (SCCMC).
The purpose of their visit was to rededicate the Chinese Memorial located in St George Cemetery, which was installed in the cemetery in 2019 as a tribute to the Chinese settlers from Amoy, China, who arrived in the mid-1800s and played a significant role in laying the foundations for the region’s agricultural sector.
During their visit, the delegation was provided with a comprehensive overview of the vast offerings and opportunities within the Shire.
Mayor, Samantha O’Toole said the range of meetings with the Chinese delegation was a mix of both significant opportunities for the Shire and “a humbling recognition of the historical efforts of early Chinese settlers that helped to shape our region”.
“The meetings with the Chinese Consul-General of Brisbane, Dr Ruan Zongze and the delegation from the St George Chinese Community Memorial Committee (Brisbane) were a great opportunity to exhibit the vast array of business and tourism opportunities that our Shire has to offer,” Mayor O’Toole said.
“We have a lot to be proud of in our Shire in terms of business opportunities and tourism success, which we presented to the Consul-General and delegation over a number of meetings.
“As a Council, we hope these relations continue to build into collaborations that further help our businesses and community with further economic opportunities into the future.
“We look forward to building upon the positive outcomes of this visit and remain committed to exploring further opportunities for collaboration, growth, and shared success.
“It was also a great opportunity to once again celebrate the historical origins of Chinese settlers from the mid-1800’s to our region, whose efforts really helped to lay the groundwork for the prosperity that we all enjoy to this day in the Balonne.”
The Mayor said the visit served as a reminder of the importance of cultural diversity and the significant contributions made by various communities to the growth and prosperity of the Balonne Shire.
“We warmly welcome the generous gifts from the St George Chinese Memorial Committee for bursaries worth $500 each to three local students with the aim of assisting them in pursuing their educational endeavours,” she said.
“As a Council, we would like to express our deepest gratitude to the SCCMC and Consul General Dr. Ruan Zongze for coordinating this visit and orchestrating a remarkable series of events that celebrated the rich multicultural history of our region.
“We are honoured to have had the opportunity to strengthen ties, foster understanding, and explore potential collaborations with our Chinese counterparts.
“By embracing these cultural connections, we can work together to create a vibrant future that benefits all residents and continues to promote harmonious relations between our nations.”
Alongside the bursaries, the delegation presented the Balonne community with numerous other thoughtful gifts, symbolising the spirit of friendship and cultural exchange, the Mayor said.
