ICE fishers in northern Minnesota have helped raise money for victims of bushfires and drought in Australia.
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And the link between the two? Bathurst's Narelle and David Druitt.
An unofficial sister relationship has developed between the Bathurst Daybreak Rotary and Detroit Lakes Breakfast Rotary clubs as a result of the Druitts living and working in the small town of Detroit Lakes in Minnesota 10 years ago.
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"We attend Breakfast Rotary meetings in Detroit Lakes whenever we go back to visit," Ms Druitt said.
"Firm friendships have been established and when they heard about our terrible drought and all the fires, they wanted to help."
The major fundraiser for the Minnesotan club, according to Ms Druitt, is an annual ice-fishing competition called Poles and Holes.
Poles and Holes raised $25,000 this year and the Minnesotan club has donated $1000 (US) of that to the Bathurst club.
It will be put with $780 raised by Bathurst Daybreak in a recent sausage sizzle at Bunnings to go to local victims of bushfire and drought.
Detroit Lakes Breakfast Rotary Club president Harrietta Kalberer said anglers of all shapes and sizes braved -10 degrees Fahrenheit (-23 degrees Celsius) to get a good spot for this year's competition.
Local high school students had drilled 1500 holes in the ice and 800 people competed for three hours to see who could catch the biggest fish, she said.
"Detroit Lakes and Bathurst Daybreak Rotary clubs are increasing international understanding and goodwill, one of the aims of Rotary," Ms Druitt said.
For further information about the Bathurst Daybreak Rotary Club, email Narelle Druitt at narellekdruitt@gmail.com.
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