The village of Dernancourt and the city of Adelaide have a long-standing relationship that was established at the end of WWI, when public subscriptions and donations from the people of Adelaide helped rebuild Dernancourt, which, like many other French towns and villages, was almost completely obliterated after four years of war.

The Somme saw some of the fiercest fighting in modern history, with Australia suffering high casualties. Dernancourt also provided its name to an suburb in Adelaide’s North-east.

As a guest in South Australia, Mr LaMotte was guest of honor at a Lord Mayor’s reception at Adelaide Town Hall, in addition to attending the Anzac Day Dawn Service on North Terrace.

Mr LaMotte has met and continues to meet a number of Australians who visit France each year, making a pilgrimage to the former battlefields of the Western Front.

Mr LaMotte has been on his local Council for 25 years and was elected Mayor in 2008 and worked as a senior electronic technician for Airbus Industrie.

Mr and Madame LaMotte have extensively travelled throughout Europe, North America and Africa, with this being their first visit to Australia.

The couple have two children, Séverine and Rémi, and three Grandchildren.

Visiting Peterborough as guests of Member for Stuart Graham Gunn, and wife Jan, the LaMottes enjoyed a luncheon with Mayor Ruth Whittle and chief executive officer Terry Barnes.

As a gesture of solidarity between Australia and France, and to further cement ties that were formed nearly 100 years ago, the French tri-color flew proudly alongside the Australian flag outside the Peterborough Town Hall.

Mr LaMotte feels that the sacrifice of previous generations must be remembered.

PHOTO: SPECIAL VISIT...

French Mayor Lionel LaMotte and wife Marie Claude, of Dernancourt were guests of Member for Stuart, Graham Gunn and wife Jan, visiting Peterborough and meeting Mayor Ruth Whittle and CEO Terry Barnes. Pictured are Jan Gunn, Marie Claude LaMotte, Mayor Lionel LaMotte, Myaor Ruth Whittle, Member for Stuart Grahma Gunn and CEO Terry Barnes.