There was a great deal of excitement in town when the people of Bourke were able to welcome the Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove and Lady Cosgrove to our iconic town.

Sir Peter and Lady Cosgrove had the opportunity to visit the hospital, public school, TAFE and Maranguka Community Hub and speak with a diverse range of our community members throughout the course of his visit on September 1.

In the afternoon Sir Peter and Lady Cosgrove laid a wreath at the Cenotaph to acknowledge those, like him, who served in the Australian armed services and in particular those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.

In the evening, Mayor Barry Hollman hosted a civic reception on board the Jandra paddle boat where Sir Peter and Lady Cosgrove were able to enjoy a cruise on the Darling River, which is the lifeblood of the western area of NSW.

The visit was very well received with both Sir Peter and Lady Cosgrove being very approachable and willing to engage with attendees at the various functions.

A considerable amount of co-ordination goes into hosting such a visit and I am pleased to say everything went extremely well with positive comments received in relation to the overall coordination of the visit by the council.