Obama goes to Nimbin, maybe…
Nimbin’s somewhat disorganised campaign for a Presidential visit received an official boost this week from Lismore City Council and the US Consulate General.
Council’s tourism manager Mitch Lowe has submitted an official presidential itinerary proposal to the Federal Government which includes a night in a five-star Nimbin teepee, a visit to Rainbow Power Company, and afternoon tea at Gunnawannabe Aboriginal café and art gallery.
“Nimbin is a place like no other in the world and has to be experienced first-hand,” he said. “We think it would be a great opportunity to show the President the real Northern Rivers culture.”
Mr Lowe’s move follows an outpouring of support for Nimbin after Tweed Shire Council’s tourism manager snubbed the infamous North Coast hippy town in the press last week. Lismore mayor Jenny Dowell and adventurer Dick Smith both spoke out in defence of Australia’s alternative capital. Mr Smith even offered to chopper the presidential party into Nimbin from Ballina airport in his own helicopters.
Nimbin Hemp Embassy president Michael Balderstone said the town appreciated President Obama’s liberal views on cannabis, though promised that no one in Nimbin ‘would pressure him to inhale’.