A COMBINATION of Dull, Boring and Bland is the cause of plenty of excitement with three ordinary-named locales coming together to form the League of Extraordinary communities.
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Last Tuesday, a quirky new tourism partnership was recognised by Bland Shire Council in which it will pair with US Pacific-northwest community Boring and the small village of Dull in the Scottish Highlands in an effort to boost visitors to the region.
Despite opposition, Bland Shire Council mayor Neil Pokoney welcomed the new links saying the partnership was "comedic and fun", with him hoping the league will give the shire more notoriety to international tourists.
"A few people were worried it was disrespectful to the Bland Shire name," Councillor Pokoney said, adding he had spoke on US radio as part of the partnership.
"But it's meant to be light-hearted and a promotional tool for the entire shire, which has plenty to offer for travellers who might want to visit."
Bland Shire has a population of 6000 people.
Boring has a population of 8000 while Dull is the smallest of the three, with about 80 residents.
Last September, a council employee read about the existing Dull and Boring partnership and thought it could be useful for Bland Shire to become a part of it.
"Boring was driving the initial partnership with Dull it is the biggest of us all," Cr Pokoney said.
The partnership has already been reported on by the ABC, BBC and in UK, US and Canadian newspapers.
Bland Shire council deputy mayor Liz McGlynn said any publicity was good publicity for the shire and its towns.
"I hope it gets people talking and coming to the region," Councillor McGlynn said.