Wagga makes its mark on a Malaysian town

A 57-year friendship with a Malaysian city has led to the local council naming one of its streets Wagga Wagga Avenue.

The Malaysian State Minister of Pahang Tourism, Culture, Environment, Plantation and Commodities, YB Dato’ Sri Haji Mohd Sharkar Bin Haji Shamsudin, and Pahang State Secretary, YH. Dato’ Sri Dr Sallehuddin Bin Ishak, visited Wagga Wagga City Council to announce the new street naming in Temerloh.

The Temerloh City Council unveiled the new street via Zoom as part of the live announcement.

Wagga Wagga Acting Mayor Jenny McKinnon said it was an exciting moment.

“Everything went brilliantly,” she said. “We were expecting a low-key event. They (Temerloh City Council) asked us the day before to set up a live link to Malaysia.

“At the end of our speeches, the huge group of Temerloh councillors stepped aside to reveal a great big bunch of balloons.

“They let go about a hundred balloons, which revealed a street sign ‘Wagga Wagga Avenue’, and it is right alongside the river.”

Cr McKinnon said Temerloh City Council had been at great pains to tell Wagga Council the avenue was the best road in the city.

“It was a real celebration of a very old relationship we’ve had,” she said.

The link between Temerloh and Wagga began in the early 1970s, fostered by a group of local residents who formed the Wagga Wagga Temerloh Good Neighbour Association.

They raised money and sent aid to the Temerloh community, including funds for a Land Rover used by the nursing sister at the baby health clinic and a number of sewing machines.

As thanks, the Temerloh community donated to Wagga Wagga a pair of elephant tusks, which were held by the council and on permanent display within the council chambers.

In 1972, Temerloh Avenue was named in honour of the association with the city of Temerloh and Malaya Drive was named in 1973.

Wagga Council said the State Minister spoke of the Good Neighbour Association relationship and their gratitude to the people of Wagga for their charity and assistance following the creation of the nation in September 1963.

Cr McKinnon said the delegation shared stories of how famous the Land Rover was.

“Some of the members from the delegation said the Land Rover was green and had something written on the side about Wagga,” she said. “They remember as kids climbing all over it and it was a community item that people really loved to see.”

Cr McKinnon added that the delegation was keen for the people of Wagga to visit Temerloh and Wagga Wagga Avenue.

“They told us Temerloh is quite the culinary destination for the people from Kuala Lumpur. They’ve got regional cuisine that is highly prized,” she said.

“They’ve got an elephant sanctuary and are in the process of developing a tiger reserve because (tigers) are endangered, and getting a local breeding program.

“They sound like a go-ahead, lovely place with lots in common with Wagga and an agriculturally focused region.”

Cr McKinnon said it was crucial to maintain relationships locally and around the world.

“And this (Good Neighbour Association) was based on a need that was identified as a result of experiences from World War II,” she said.

“And I think people from Wagga are keen to help people out when they’re in a difficult situation … it’s being a good neighbour at all sorts of levels.”

Cr McKinnon said when it came to tourism, having a relationship and knowing more about each other’s area helped people to feel safe and comfortable about visiting each other’s city.

During the visit to Wagga, the Malaysian delegates visited Malaya Drive and Temerloh Avenue.