TAMWORTH was right in the middle of international affairs on Monday as US Consul General Valerie Fowler put her boots on Peel St.
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The Consulate General in Sydney is the oldest American Foreign Service post in Australia dating back to 1836. However, Mrs Fowler’s whirlwind inland tour of Tamworth and Armidale was the first of its kind, and proved to serve the desired purpose.
“I believe you can only understand a country by getting away from the cities,” Mrs Fowler said.
The diplomat has more than 28 years’ experience in the Senior Foreign Service, and despite serving in places such as Sri Lanka, Bosnia, Afghanistan, China and Hong Kong, the Consul General believes that her three-year term in Australia is the most important to date.
“The Indo-Asia region is our (US) future,” Mrs Fowler said.
“Australia is far more than an ally in the Asia Pacific, and there is no better partner to us in the world.
“The US needs Australia to be a Pacific power.”
Meanwhile more locally, the Consul General also met with Mayor Col Murray and representatives from the Tamworth Regional Council to gain more of an insight into the region, and was particularly impressed with Tamworth’s sister-city relationship with Nashville.
She even chose Tamworth as the perfect destination to pull out her Australian leather hat, and Nashville boots.
“I know Nashville is a terrific city for music and that makes it a natural partner for Tamworth but it was neat to hear also the way the two cities are collaborating on best practices,” Mrs Fowler said.
“Everything from healthcare to economic development ideas – it is really quite exciting and exactly what we like to see.”
The diplomat was also quick to point out that the arrival of President Donald Trump has meant no change to her role, while also defending the US stance on the recently scrapped Trans-Pacific Trade Partnership.
“Stepping back from the TPP got a lot of attention but what did not get the same attention was the administrations interest in bi-lateral trade agreements rather than multi-lateral,” she said.
“The US does very well out of our free trade agreement as does Australia – In fact trade has gone up 50 percent in the last three years alone to $1.5 trillion.”
The Consul General’s two day inland tour will see her meet with Kevin Anderson on Tuesday morning, before heading to Armidale for a tour of the New England city.
“There is something very real when you get beyond the major cities,” Mrs Fowler said.
“Conversations tend to be very heartfelt and genuine - it’s relatability.
“It’s about relationships and personal interactions and not about titles.”