Ayrshire: Largs and Brisbane connection call for volunteers

At a recent meeting in the Brisbane House Hotel, Cllr Alan Hill - along with representatives from Largs Community Council and others - met with David Muir from Brisbane, Australia.

David is a representative of Australian charity the Clem Jones Group. Clem Jones was the former mayor of Brisbane and established the charity which does amazing work in areas such as research into cures for dementia and leukaemia as well as sport and sports science.

Cllr Hill said: "When I was at Largs Academy, we had much closer links with Brisbane. The Brisbane Queen Festival still took place every year and the “Queen” would visit Brisbane at some stage during her reign. Many of these trips were sponsored and organised by the late Clem Jones.

Through the eras Ina Baird from 1936 with 2000 Queen Laura Anne Connor (Image: Newsquest)

Clem’s love for the town of Largs never dimmed and although he passed away in 2007, the staff and volunteers he left behind in the Clem Jones Foundation were left under no illusion of his love for Largs.

In 2032, the city of Brisbane will play host to the Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games. David Muir visited recently to explore the possibilities for increased cooperation between the two countries and to seek to promote Largs, its businesses and people leading to increased tourism and a higher profile internationally.”

Clem Jones was a regular visitor to Largs and stayed when he was here with former Largs Provost, Willie Donald and his wife Sonny. It was his stated aim as he left office as Lord Mayor of Brisbane to build and strengthen links between Largs and Brisbane.

Cllr Alan Hill (Image: Newsquest)

Cllr Hill continued: “The Olympics and Paralympics provide a great opportunity for local groups and especially sporting organisations to get involved. David Muir is especially looking for individuals and organisations to come forward and make contact. This can include sporting groups in the town and those involved in sports for people with disabilities.

David is also keen to build contacts with local businesses, historical and heritage societies, local arts and music groups, youth groups, schools and education. Anyone who would like to become involved either themselves or through their group should contact me via email alanhill@north-ayrshire.gov.uk and I will pass on their details to David.”

The Lord Mayor of Brisbane has also formally written to the Provost of North Ayrshire, again seeking to build and foster greater contact.

Cllr Hill concluded: "The current Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Adrian Schrinner, has sent a formal letter to our Provost seeking to build and grow local contact among our business, sporting and educational groups in Largs and across North Ayrshire.

"I am sure that the Provost will wish to respond positively and we can hopefully start to build on this. However, nothing will come of this, if it is not lead and organized by local people living and working in Largs.

"There will be further contact and meetings in the future and the community council and other groups will have a great role to play but I would encourage anyone who might be interested in getting involved to make themselves known.”