The exchange of culture and ideas is key to understanding difference, a leading US diplomat has said during her visit to Bendigo.
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US Consul General Frankie Reed embarked on a whirl-wind tour of the city for the first time during her term in Australia, where she covers the vast area of the Northern Territory, South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania.
Ms Reed said Bendigo struck her as a “positive, hospitable” place.
Prior to moving to Melbourne in March, Ms Reed served as a peace corps volunteer teaching English to Senegalese children and later became a diplomat.
There’s always a lot of room for interpretation ... t's better to talk with people and listen to all sides.
- Frankie Reed, Consul General of the United States of America
In this role she worked in countries as diverse as France and Fiji before her three-year stint in Melbourne began earlier this year.
She shared her passion for foreign exchange. Whether it was for students, professionals or artists, she said being embedded in a culture gave a fresh outlook and a deeper understanding of different attitudes.
Ms Reed said she had heard uplifting things about Bendigo before her visit, and news reports of rallies in the city had not dampened her enthusiasm.
“I have served in Muslim countries as a peace corps volunteer, and in France during a time when there was unrest and it wasn't quite the same (as Australia) but similar in many ways,” she said.
“There’s always a lot of room for interpretation.
“It's better to talk with people and listen to all sides, the environment I think here is very positive.”
“The local message here is one that's very encouraging, in terms of acceptance of diversity, and I've found that in that how often that lesson is repeated, in education, in local leader and also in sports.”
Ms Reed said she valued “snapshot” of Bendigo and hearing what was important to the local community.
Ms Reed attended former Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s address in Bendigo, met with mayor-elect Rod Fyffe and Thales employees, toured the city’s historic buildings, visited the university and dined at Rocks on Rosalind during her stay.
