THE Country Mayors Association of NSW played host to NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon at a recent gala dinner.

NSW Minister for Local Government, Ron Hoenig, was also a guest speaker at the special function held at the Royal Automobile Club of Australia in Sydney.

Nearly 150 rural, remote and regional New South Wales mayors, general managers, CEOs and special guests attended the NRMA-sponsored event.

CMA chairman, Rick Firman, said the event enabled members and guest to chat first-hand with Mr Lanyon and Mr Hoenig.

“It was terrific for our members to come together for such a first-class evening, at no cost to them or their Councils,” Cr Firman said.

“Our Members work hard for their respective communities and share many common challenges, so fellowship among peers is important.

“However, this was also a valuable opportunity to hear directly from our Police Commissioner and ask questions of him,” he said.

“Commissioner Lanyon spoke on his strong commitment to tackling crime in rural, remote and regional areas. He expressed his wish to continue to work with the CMA Board and Member Councils.

“The Commissioner is justly proud of the successful recruitment campaign Be a Cop in Your Hometown, announcing that for the first time in many years new recruits will equal the numbers leaving the force.

“However, many more are still needed,” Cr Firman said.

“Rural and remote police accommodation was just one of the issues raised by our members.

(from left) NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon, NSW Minister for Local Government, Ron Hoenig and Country Mayors Association of NSW president Rick Firman at a special function held at the Royal Automobile Club of Australia in Sydney recently.

“Minister Hoenig said he is reviewing the ban of online, remote participation in Council meetings, stipulated in the relatively new Code of Meeting Practice.

“This is a particular concern for our rural and remote Member Councils.”

NRMA’s chief membership officer, Victoria Doidge, also addressed the function.

NRMA played a video about a community collaborative young driver program, initiated by Upper Hunter Shire and first broadly promoted as an innovative program at a CMA meeting.

Commissioner Lanyon commended the initiative and NRMA vowed to support CMA members who wished to run such a program for their communities.

“Police Commissioner Lanyon, Minister Hoenig and the NRMA are genuine mates of our CMA family,” Cr Firman said.

“They are fair dinkum and, generally, our goals align. We work closely with them to ensure our rural, remote and regional Councils and communities are heard and action is taken whenever possible.

“These CMA dinners are arguably just as important as our advocacy and lobbying work. We are spending time together, listening to and learning from each other.

“Our CMA family gatherings are important to us and we look forward to hosting Sir Peter Cosgrove as our next special guest speaker at a reception hosting for us by the President of the Legislative Council Ben Franklin on May 7, at NSW Parliament House,” Cr Firman said.