WE are sorry to learn that two towns united by name are embroiled in an international incident.

Journalist Frazer Guild travelled here from York, Western Australia, and presented our city with a painting by Aboriginal artist Merle Narkle-Goodwin. But now she wants her picture back, claiming she has been "snubbed by the Poms".

While we are tempted to suggest that these are sour grapes left over from the Ashes, it was clearly bad manners on old York's part not to have responded sooner. So we're glad to hear the message has now gone out: "Fair dinkum, Merle, for a ripper picture!"

Updated: 10:19 Tuesday, April 04, 2006