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Walhalla Getting Back on TrackThe Gippsland Tourism Response and Recovery Group are holding a community briefing in Walhalla’s Mechanics Hall on Wednesday February 8th. By Chris Buckingham - 7th February 2006 - Back to News The Gippsland Tourism Response and Recovery Group are holding a community briefing in Walhalla’s Mechanics Hall on Wednesday February 8th just after noon for the communities directly affected by the Moondarra bushfires in Gippsland.
Walhalla Railways will provide media representatives and key stakeholders a ride on the legendary Walhalla Railway in time for the meeting.
The train will leave Thomson Station at 11.30am and arrive at Walhalla at 11.50am. In a gesture of solidarity with the tiny community three sharp whistles will be blown as the train arrives.
While the Moondarra fires have now been put out and communities like Walhalla are no longer under threat, businesses in the towns are doing it tough, because the thousands of visitors that usually come to the region are staying away.
The fires appear to be having impact on visitation across Gippsland. None of the communities affected by the fires in Gippsland were physically burnt, but people appear to be staying away because they do not want to offend the locals.
The opposite is true. Locals recognise that the best thing people can do is book a holiday, or visit the area sometime before Easter.
The Walhalla Railways are providing this free service to encourage positive promotion of the Gippsland region and to let people know that the region will welcome visitors, whether they are coming for a week or a day.
Media representatives: For more information, or to book your space on the train, please contact Chris Buckingham, General Manager, Gippsland Tourism on 0429 869 638 or Janiene Ayre Manager, Innovation Development and Marketing at Baw Baw Shire on 5624 2538.
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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