Latrobe Businesses shine in Tourism AwardsPhillip Island and Gippsland Discovery Tourism Awards claimed a resounding success. By Latrobe City Council - 23rd March 2001 - Back to News The inaugural Phillip Island and Gippsland Discovery Tourism Awards held at the Premiere Function Centre last night has been claimed a resounding success.
Latrobe City Mayor, Councillor Brendan Jenkins, said that over a hundred and fifty people attended the Awards from all over Gippsland, with representatives from Tourism Victoria and the Country Victorian Tourism Council presenting the coveted awards.
“Local businesses shone through in the Awards with two Latrobe City businesses taking out three separate award categories. This is a great accolade for the region,” Cr Jenkins said.
Tourism Development Officer at Latrobe City Council, Michelle Toppin said The Old Tyers Store had achieved outstanding success setting a precedent in the awards by taking out two separate award categories.
“The Old Tyers Store took out the first for ‘Best New Business’ and ‘Arts Retail and Promotion’. The Old Tyers Store also received a Certificate of Recognition and Commendation for the category ‘General Tourism Services’ which was ultimately won by the Prom Country Information Centre in Korumburra,” Ms Toppin said.
An elated Lynda Rimsa who owns and operates The Old Tyers Store together with her mother Isabel Chapman, said that the recognition she had received was overwhelming but also extremely gratifying,
“It has been an exhausting but extremely exhilarating experience. I consciously set out to promote the very best of Gippsland as I have always believed that we had so much to offer here. I have always tried to get involved with Council’s tourism and business initiatives as well as actively pursue networking and public relations opportunities. It has definitely paid off,” Ms Rimsa said.
Judges referred to The Old Tyers Store as a testament to the determination and vision of the business owners. The inspection report referred to the The Old Tyers Store in glowing terms,
The inspection report stated “The Old Tyers Store nomination was a tribute to local rural ingenuity that had transformed a derelict local facility into a vibrant community asset. I was most taken by the enthusiasm of the proprietor and her staff and their commitment to the development of the local product.”
Gippsland Getaway Tours of Traralgon was also victorious on the night taking out the category of ‘Tour and Transport Operators’. The tour company is a family run business which operates out of the Governor Gipps Motor Inn in Argyle Street, Traralgon. The Bibbys run tours throughout the year crossing the expanse of Gippsland and have also worked extensively with Lynda Rimsa at The Old Tyers Store to promote the local region.
In another highlight for Latrobe City, the Moe Development Group was awarded a Certificate of Recognition and commendation for their application for the category ‘Festivals and Events’.
Other category award winners included Wallaby Rise in Glenmaggie for best ‘Tourism Restaurant’, the Walhalla Goldfields Railway for best ‘Regional Attraction’, the Sundowner Lodge in Venus Bay for best ‘Boutique Accommodation’, Kewley’s Holiday Cottages in Golden Beach for best ‘Budget Accommodation’, the Cowes Caravan Park for best ‘Camping and Caravan Park’, The Continental for ‘Superior Accommodation’ and the Phillip Island Nature Park for best ‘Significant Regional Attraction’.
Ms Toppin said the Awards set a standard of excellence for the region and established greater recognition for the region as a tourism destination. Ms Toppin also advised tourism operators that she would be running a workshop to assist operators with award applications later in the year.
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: latrobecity@gippslander.com
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