AUSTRALIA\u2019S Governor-General talked up Geelong\u2019s past, present and future (though not its football team) during an official visit to the city on Friday.<\/p>\n
General Sir Peter Cosgrove and Lady Cosgrove visited the Geelong Library and Heritage Centre, where they were welcomed by acting Geelong mayor Peter Murrihy.<\/p>\n
Speaking before an audience of City of Greater Geelong councillors and local leaders, the Governor- General \u2013 who will retire at the end of June \u2013 said Geelong was a key port in the early gold rush, and a city of innovation that invented the Hills hoist and Australia\u2019s first commercial fridge.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe good news is that Geelong has become known for its resilience, its determination, and its instinct to embrace and cultivate change.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Geelong of today is not just surviving; it\u2019s thriving. I think your city has become synonymous with regrowth, reinvention and reinvention, all leading to new opportunities.\u201d<\/p>\n
He also noted the growing support in the city for fast rail to cut the travel time between Geelong and Melbourne to as low as half an hour but said his experiences in Shanghai showed it could be cut further.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy would we limit it to 30 minutes?\u201d he said.\u201cThat\u2019s in China, where of course it\u2019s a little easier to have right of way put in for the train, but the technology is absolutely available.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cr Murrihy said it was a tremendous honour to have met Sir Peter and Lady Cosgrove.<\/p>\n
\u201cSir Peter has been a giant figure in modern Australian history, making an incredible contribution throughout public life, his long and distinguished military career, and across a range of other fields. He is an inspiring person and it was wonderful to welcome him to Geelong.\u201d<\/p>\n
The city\u2019s manager of economic development and events Tim Ellis delivered a presentation on Geelong\u2019s UNESCO City of Design designation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
AUSTRALIA\u2019S Governor-General talked up Geelong\u2019s past, present and future (though not its football team) during an official visit to the city on Friday. General Sir Peter Cosgrove and Lady Cosgrove visited the Geelong Library and Heritage Centre, where they were welcomed by acting Geelong mayor Peter Murrihy. Speaking before an audience of City of Greater […]<\/p>\n