Hindmarsh Shire Council with assistance and support from the Australian Karen Organisation (AKO), Werribee organised for 15 migrants to visit Nhill and Dimboola as part of the Hindmarsh Shire Migrant Open Weekend last weekend.

The Hindmarsh Shire Open Weekend is a chance for metropolitan job seekers to experience Hindmarsh Shire in person and see what it would be like to live in a rural setting and to showcase the wonderful facilities, schools and lifestyles that are available.

The weekend included tours of schools, West Wimmera Health Service and Allied Health and a tour of Nhill with Cr Ron Lowe as the tour guide.

The Nhill town tour included sport and recreation facilities, Sherwell/Ahrens, Nhill Learning Centre and Paw Po as well as general information about the area.

Lunch was catered for by the Nhill Karen Community Committee at Jaypex Park which provided an opportunity for visitors to meet members of the local Karen community and to enjoy a walk along the Nhill Swamp Boardwalk and around Nhill Lake.

The visitors enjoyed a Saturday evening dinner catered for by Allambi Elderly Peoples Home, Dimboola at the Riverside Holiday Park, which was followed by a leisurely Sunday morning walk along the Wimmera River guided by members of the Dimboola Town Committee.

The visitors had a tour of Dimboola before departing for Melbourne late morning.

Hindmarsh Shire Council Mayor, Cr Debra Nelson, thanked the organisations and businesses who assisted.

"Council would like to thank the organisations and businesses who opened up their doors over the weekend to enable the visitors to gain a better understanding of the services and facilities available within Hindmarsh Shire," she said.

"Without their support, events like the Migrant Open Weekend would not be able to be held. I would also like to thank Cr Lowe, Nhill Karen Community Committee and Allambi from Dimboola for catering and the Dimboola Town Committee for their support on Sunday morning".

The Hindmarsh Shire Migrant Open Weekend was funded through the Federal Government's Department of Employment Labour Market Support Program, which has assisted in the appointment of a part-time migrant employment Coordinator at Council.

Photo contributed by Hindmarsh Shire Council.