(photo Terra Sword)
The Lismore State Emergency Service has been gifted $8000 following a generous donation from Lismore’s Japanese sister city Yamato Takada.
The bundle of cash – $626,000 Yen – was handed to Lismore’s mayor Jenny Dowell earlier this week when Japanese exchange delegates arrived in town.
‘I can’t say I’ve ever been handed an envelope of cash before – and $626,000 Yen certainly makes quite a large bundle,’ Cr Dowell said.
‘The Mayor of Yamato Takada, Masakatsu Toshida, saw some the images on Facebook of Lismore underwater during the recent floods and he wanted to help.
‘It is incredibly generous, and just goes to show the care and esteem Yamato Takada has for Lismore and our close sister city relationship. It was very touching, if a little unorthodox, and very unexpected.
‘We have decided that as the SES is the first responder to floods, it is only fair that we should pass this sizeable donation on to them.
‘The SES operates largely through the hard work and generosity of volunteers, so these funds will be a welcome injection.’
Lismore SES deputy unit controller Lindsay Matterson said the donation would pay for a new extension to the Brunswick Street workshop to house more flood boats.
He said a thank you plaque would be displayed, written in both English and Japanese.
‘When they told me there was a donation from our sister city, I thought it might be $500 or something, not $8000,’ Mr Matterson said.
‘I am rarely lost for words – I can talk under wet concrete – but I was absolutely speechless.’
Mr Matterson and the mayor, along with the exchange delegates, took part in a Skype session with the mayor of Yamato Takada this morning to say thank you for the generous gift.
