Last February 3rd, in Autralia, there was a meeting between the Machico mayor and various representatives of the new council of Inner West, Sidney, New South Wales, where many of the Madeirans in Australia live, In this meeting the mayor, accompanied by the general consul for Portugal in Sidney, Paulo Domingues, and by the conselheiro of the Madeiran Communities for Australia, José Gois, met the representatives of the Australian council.
Basic concern was the need to enhance relations between the Machico council and the new Australian council unit, given the number of Machico-born residents. The Machico mayor challenged the new council to accept a twinning agreement, which was well received by the Australian group, given the way in which the Madeiran community is seen in the area. The added relationships will translate – one hopes – into real benefits, on all levels, but especially social, cultural, tourist and economics.
Ricardo Franco invited his Australian counterparts to visit Machico and get to know Madeira, something which will be discussed and decided at a later stage.
The meeting also raised an important issue for the Madeiran community, the possibility that the council will cede a plot of land or a building to be turned into a day centre for the communty’s elder living in Sidney.
This was the last of the institutional contacts promoted by Ricardo Franco before his return to Madeira.
Last February 3rd, in Autralia, there was a meeting between the Machico mayor and various representatives of the new council of Inner West, Sidney, New South Wales, where many of the Madeirans in Australia live, In this meeting the mayor, accompanied by the general consul for Portugal in Sidney, Paulo Domingues, and by the conselheiro of the Madeiran Communities for Australia, José Gois, met the representatives of the Australian council.
Basic concern was the need to enhance relations between the Machico council and the new Australian council unit, given the number of Machico-born residents. The Machico mayor challenged the new council to accept a twinning agreement, which was well received by the Australian group, given the way in which the Madeiran community is seen in the area. The added relationships will translate – one hopes – into real benefits, on all levels, but especially social, cultural, tourist and economics.
Ricardo Franco invited his Australian counterparts to visit Machico and get to know Madeira, something which will be discussed and decided at a later stage.
The meeting also raised an important issue for the Madeiran community, the possibility that the council will cede a plot of land or a building to be turned into a day centre for the communty’s elder living in Sidney.
This was the last of the institutional contacts promoted by Ricardo Franco before his return to Madeira.