Gunnedah’s Tongan family to visit

27 April, 2023

A royal delegation from Gunnedah Shire’s Sister City of Kolomotu’a is planning a return visit to Gunnedah in July, featuring the Gunnedah Chamber of Commerce’s Gala Business House Dinner as a highlight.

Gunnedah Shire and Kolomotu’a, Tonga, signed a Sister City Agreement when Her Royal Highness Princess Angelika Lātūfuipeka Tukuʻaho, the High Commissioner of the Kingdom of Tonga to the Commonwealth of Australia, visited in June 2022.

The visit is being organised by Gunnedah Shire Council in partnership with Gunnedah Chamber of Commerce and community representatives.

Gunnedah Shire Mayor Jamie Chaffey said he was pleased to announce the Princess would return to Gunnedah to mark the anniversary of the partnership.

“What we have with Kolomotu’a is more like family than a friendship,” Cr Chaffey said.

“We will be delighted to welcome Her Royal Highness and the delegation back to Gunnedah and show them more of our wonderful shire.

“We are also looking forward to the Gala Business House Dinner, which will be a true celebration of our vibrant Business Community. It will be a pleasure to welcome the Tongan royal delegation as guests of honour and to raise money for a new library for the Kolomotu’a Middle School which was hit by the tsunami in January 2022. Delegates from Gunnedah visited the school in October and witnessed the problems the school was having following the tsunami.

“This is a way we can celebrate our local Business and Industry and to lend a hand to our friends in Tonga.”

Gunnedah Chamber of Commerce President Ben Hennessy said:  “We are excited that the royal delegation’s visit coincides with our Gala Business House Dinner which will be a fantastic night out for our local business community to network and celebrate our strong, diverse and vibrant community.

“It’s exciting that we will be hosting the Princess and raising funds for their library destroyed in the tsunami. It will also be great to showcase the benefits our relationship has already had on the Gunnedah community through employment pathways for our thriving local businesses.” 

The delegation is expected to visit between 7 and 9 July. The Gala Dinner will be held in the Town Hall on Saturday, 8 July to celebrate and showcase our local business sector.

Preparation is also under way for a return visit to Tonga in October to showcase career opportunities. Gunnedah Shire businesses will be invited to participate.

Caption: Her Royal Highness Princess Angelika Lātūfuipeka Tukuʻaho, the High Commissioner of the Kingdom of Tonga to the Commonwealth of Australia, will return to Gunnedah Shire in July.

ENDS

For more information, contact Gunnedah Shire Council’s Communications team on (02) 6740 2100 or [email protected].