The History of the Shrine Travelling Exhibition is touring regional Victorian centres from 2006 to 2009. Over 20 leading institutions are hosting this important exhibition which aims to connect all Victorians to the Shrine of Remembrance. The exhibition features information panels, archival photographs and audiovisual material. It traces the Shrine’s fascinating history from concept to construction through to its role as a contemporary commemorative and interactive learning space. The Shrine exhibition will be in Bairnsdale through June and July.

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The coastal region stretching from Lake Tyers in East Gippsland to Mimosa Rocks National Park in Southern New South Wales and inland towards Bombala was recently presented under the name Australia’s Coastal Wilderness to international tourism and travel representatives at a trade show in Perth. Held at the Australian Tourism Exchange the conference was attended by East Gippsland Mayor, Cr Mendy Urie, CEO Steve Kozlowski and Shire economic development and tourism coordinator Phil Rickards who is chair of the steering committee for Australia’s Coastal Wilderness. Mr Rickards said the launch that was part of the National Landscapes Program signalled a new era for tourism in East Gippsland and Southern New South Wales. “Devised by Tourism Australia and Parks Australia, the program was designed to identify the best of Australia’s natural and cultural landscapes that are inspirational destinations in their own right and that transcend borders and boundaries,” he said. “The landscapes also include Australia’s Red Centre, the Australian Alps, Kakadu, Flinders Ranges, the Great Ocean Road, Australia’s Green Cauldron (Mt Warning and surrounding areas inland from Byron Bay and the Gold Coast) and the Greater Blue Mountains. “These landscapes are to be marketed to the global audience known as Experience Seekers who want to get off the beaten track and immerse themselves in Australian nature and culture.” Mr Rickards said that from a marketing point of view, two of East Gippsland’s most spectacular natural assets, the High Country and parts of the beautiful coastal region would be now promoted internationally alongside other national icons under a high profile brand. “The other great benefit of the program is that it encourages stakeholders including land managers, tourism agencies, local government and industry to work closely together for the conservation of Australia’s outstanding natural and cultural experiences.” Cr Urie said the name chosen for the coastal region - Australia’s Coastal Wilderness – made the statement that we have a world-class destination right here in our own back yard. “Although there are other coastal wilderness areas around Australia our wilderness area is distinguished by its accessibility to visitors coming from Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra and its proximity to unique communities including Mallacoota, Bemm River and Eden that that are bases for exploring spectacular lakes, rivers, forests and beaches. In addtition, the linkage between the two National Landscapes, part of which lie in East Gippsland - Australia's Coastal Wilderness and the Australian Alps means that a strong marketing partnership can be formed. This will enable a more successful delivery of the product to the international and domestic markets so benefitting the tourism industry and numerous communities in both East Gippsland's coastal region and High Country. " she said.

The Gippsland Tourism Sector was in full flight on Thursday 5 June as 150 people came together to celebrate a great year in tourism. The Gippsland Tourism Awards were hosted by Bis Cucina in Sale. There were 8 winners, 13 finalists and 8 certificates of commendation awarded across 10 Categories. Ms Jan Davis from Lakes Entrance Waverley House Cottages a Finalist in the Hosted Accommodation Category summed it up for many: 'It was a fantastic night. It was so good to get together with operators from across the region. There is such a strong sense of unity of purpose.’ Mr Chris Buckingham, Gippsland Tourism said: 'The judging this year was much tougher and in line with the standards set for the Victorian Tourism Awards, but our operators rose to the challenge. While it was fantastic to see so many businesses judged to a high standard, the highlight was to see the industry coming together in such a unified and positive way.’ Phil Rickards, Economic Development & Tourism Coordinator for the East Gippsland Shire Council congratulated the winners and said that he was sure East Gippsland would again be well represented amongst the nominees in the 2009 Awards. Tourism Wineries Winner- Brandy Creek Wines and View Café - Richard Stockdale 5625 4498 Finalist- Wild Dog Winery - Gary Surman 5623 1117 Commendation - Toms Cap Vineyard - Grahame Morris 5194 2215 Commendation - The Gurdies Winery - Peter Kozik 5997 6208 New Tourism Development Commendation - Lakes Explorer - Peter Johnstone 5155 5027 Commendation - Nickelby at Darnum - Angela Betheras 0419 550 301 Tourist Attractions Winner - Mount Baw Baw Alpine Resort - Leona Turra 5165 1136 Finalist - Candalaraine Alpacas - Lorraine Barnett 5628 1718 Tourism Marketing Winner - Prom Country Regional Tourism - Christine Legg 1800 630 704 Hosted Accommodation Winner - Stringybark Cottages Bed and Breakfast- Neil Triggs 5157 5245 Finalist - Lakes Entrance Waverley House Cottages - Jan Davis 5155 1257 Finalist - Cypress Hill Bed and Breakfast - Amanda Ford 5657 2240 Commendation- Springbank Bed and Breakfast - Kaye Greene 5627 8060 Luxury Boutique Accommodation Winner - Montfort Manor - Melinda Wilson 5174 8211 Deluxe Accommodation Commendation - Frog Gully Cottages - Ann Andrew 0439 369 057 Visitor Information and Services Winner - Latrobe Visitor Information Centre - Marissa Pacunskis 1800 621 409 Merit- Prom Country Visitor Information Centre - Christine Legg 1800 630 704 Commendation - Wellington Visitor Information Centre - Mark Watson 5144 1108 Tourist and Caravan Parks Winner - Toora Tourist Park - Rachel Brown 5686 2257 Commendation - Inverloch Holiday Park- Kate Edwards 5674 1447 Tourism Education and Training Winner- Gippsland Tourism Industry Leadership Program - Janiene Ayre 5624 2538

East Gippsland Shire Council in conjunction with the Victorian Governments Under New Management Program will be hosting a Going into Business Workshop on Wednesday 11 June 2008 between 1pm and 5pm Refreshments will be included. To be held at the 55 Palmers Road Building, Lakes Entrance the workshop will cost $30.00 per business participant. A fantastic workshop packed full of value you will learn about marketing to financing, business planning to advisory services, including a comprehensive overview of all the issues and requirements involved in starting and buying a small business.

MEDIA RELEASE Tuesday, 20 May 2008 ALGAL BLOOM DECLINES – SIGNS REMOVED Recent results from monitoring of the Gippsland Lakes Blue-green algal bloom indicate that the algae have declined sufficiently to levels that will no longer adversely affect human health. Consequently, all signs around the Lakes warning people not to come into contact with the affected water will be removed. This process will begin immediately but due to the practicality of accessing certain sites some signs may remain in place for a while until the operation is complete. Chair of the Gippsland Coastal Board, Duncan Malcolm said this is welcome news for everyone who has been involved in the management of this bloom for the past five months and also for the communities and businesses around the Gippsland Lakes. “We’re all delighted and relieved that we are finally able to remove the warning signs and declare this bloom reduced enough to no longer affect human health,” Mr Malcolm said. “We must remain cautious though, as there are still pockets of localised blooms in the Lakes and in other areas.” “Some parts of the Lakes are still green and we advise people to continue to avoid contact with any discoloured water which could have slightly higher levels of algae than normal for a while.” There are also local blooms still occurring at the Port of Sale and at Macleods Morass, south of Bairnsdale. Mr Malcolm said it was a testimony to the management of the incident and to the understanding and cooperation of local communities and local media that the bloom did not significantly affect tourism over the peak summer period. “The multi-agency Incident Management Team has met weekly since the beginning of January and has been responsible for the erection of warning signs at 110 sites, regular monitoring at over 30 sites, liaison with community groups and tourism operators and setting strategic directions for combating this Blue-green algae bloom,” he said. “The smooth running of the response effort and constant information dissemination has played an important part in ensuring minimum disruption to the community, holiday makers and tourism operators during the peak holiday times.” “We would like to thank the community and particularly tourism businesses for their assistance and their patience during this long-running incident.”

East Gippsland Shire is contributing to a review of the official tourist signing guidelines developed by VicRoads and Tourism Victoria and encouraging regional operators to have their say. Shire economic development and tourism coordinator Phil Rickards said VicRoads and Tourism Victoria were interested in views about relation signing, extent of signing, enforcement and compliance issues and how multiple attractions can be signed at one location. “Tourist and services signing is an important issue within the tourism industry that particularly affects businesses in regional Victoria,” he said. “The aim of the guidelines is to accommodate the needs of businesses while still upholding basic principles of traffic management and road safety as well as protecting the visual amenity of roadsides.” Mr Rickards said signs covered within the guidelines include the tourist attraction signs (white lettering on brown background), service signs (white lettering on blue background) and visitor information signs. “While the guidelines have lead to a major improvement in the quality of tourist and services signing since their development there can always be improvement,” he said. “Comments should be sent directly to VicRoads or Tourism Victoria and any tourism operator wanting to discuss matters relating to the guidelines is also invited to contact either Daryl Townsend or me at the Shire.” Mr Rickards said the draft revision to the Tourist Signing Guidelines could be found at www.tourismvictoria.com.au/signs. Photo: Roads and traffic technical officer Daryl Townsend (left) and economic development and tourism coordinator Phil Rickards refer to the guidelines at a typical tourism sign.

East Gippsland is still an excellent holiday destination that offers a diverse range of activities for visitors, according to chairman of the East Gippsland Regional Business and Tourism Association, Adrian Bromage. “Despite the recent warning against swimming in the Gippsland Lakes they are still perfectly fine for boating, fishing and enjoying the many attractions offered in the charming lakeside towns of Lakes Entrance, Metung and Paynesville,” Mr Bromage said. “There are also alternatives at the patrolled beaches at Lakes Entrance and at local swimming pools, while many accommodation houses and caravan parks have their own pools. "Nearby Lake Tyers is unaffected as are the ocean beaches at the delightful coastal resort towns of Marlo and Cape Conran, Bemm River, Point Hicks and Mallacoota.” East Gippsland Shire’s director of corporate and economic development John Websdale said there were also extensive national parks, local walking trails, and the popular caves at Buchan to enjoy. “We also have restaurants, eateries and wineries for relaxing and unwinding that offer some of nature’s best views, along with art galleries and museums,” he said. “There is also much to do in our wilderness areas, the high country and on our cycle and walking trails.” Mr Websdale said by visiting the new www.discovereastgippsland.com.au website intending visitors could learn a great deal about the many choices available for visitors and holidaymakers. “Alternatively people can call the Visitor Information Centres on 1800 637 060 for information as well as accommodation and tour bookings,” he said. “East Gippsland is a large and ‘Naturally Magic’ region that provides many options for relaxation and enjoyment.”

Do you need help with planning, marketing, purchasing or building networks? Perhaps you’re starting a new business or looking to expand or diversify, or just want to get an idea off the ground?
In any of these scenarios, our FREE one-hour private confidential consultations should not be missed! East Gippsland Shire Council has partnered with the Small Business Field Officer program to offer small business assistance to intending or existing business operators. On the third Wednesday of each month, Rod McLean, Small Business Field Officer will be available by appointment at the Shire’s Corporate Centre, 273 Main Street, Bairnsdale.
The Small Business Field Officer Program is fostering the growth of small business in Gippsland by improving the capacity of small business to access information and advice on Australian government, State government and Local government programs, services and information. The program is auspiced by the Australian Government through the Gippsland Area Consultative Committee.
Bookings for this free service can be made by calling Melissa Bentzen from the Economic Development Team on 5153 9500.

A proposal to advance the Australian Alps for recognition as an international tourism destination was discussed at a meeting in Canberra last week. Australian Alps Region steering committee spokesman Peter Jacobs said he was optimistic the Alps region would receive recognition under the National Landscapes Program and be marketed overseas as a tourism destination. Held on International Mountain Day the meeting was attended by more than 20 stakeholders from Victoria, New South Wales and the ACT. Economic development and tourism coordinator Phil Rickards represented East Gippsland Shire. Mr Jacobs said the bid that was being developed under Tourism Australia’s National Landscapes initiative had wide support from throughout the region. “We are particularly concerned to ensure that any tourism in the Australian Alps national parks is sensitive and compatible with conserving the unique mountain environments and the natural and cultural values found in them,” he said. “This is why we are so happy to take the approach that the National Landscapes initiative provides and which is targeted at people that are sensitive to the need to conserve these unique values. Mr James who is chief ranger, Alpine District, for Parks Victoria also said that it was a bonus that the meeting coincided with International Mountain Day. “This day presents an opportunity to create awareness about the importance of mountains to life, to highlight the opportunities and constraints in mountain development and to build partnerships that will bring positive change to the world's mountains and highlands,” he said. “The natural environments of the Australian Alps are already under a great range of pressures, not the least of which is climate change.” Phil Rickards said that the Alps and the High Country were an important part of East Gippsland’s geography and culture and were of high value from a tourism and environmental point of view. “Both East Gippsland and Gippsland are behind the enthusiastic push for National Landscapes recognition and our Shire and other stakeholders including Gippsland Tourism are actively engaged in the process,” he said.

East Gippsland Shire’s Corporate Centre in Bairnsdale is now displaying a new sign that promotes the recently introduced “Naturally Magic” regional branding concept. Erected in early December it is placed prominently outside the front of the building. CEO Steve Kozlowski said the Shire was leading by example and encouraged other businesses and organisations to get involved with the new campaign. “It can only succeed when we all get behind the brand,” he said. “We have made it easy by preparing a CD that contains all the necessary graphic elements and it is available free of charge at all Shire offices. Picture caption: “Take a look at the new sign” say East Gippsland Councillors (from left) Dale Fisher, Robert Nettleton, Bob Haldane, Gil Sheppard, Ben Buckley, Ron Schrader and CEO Steve Kozlowski.

Welcome to the newly created official tourism and economic development site for East Gippsland! Browse through the fantastic accommodation pages and see what exciting events and attractions you can enjoy!

Bairnsdale bus operator Peter Neal has joined the “Naturally Magic” regional marketing campaign. Newly appointed to the Tourism Marketing Board, he said the time was right for him to be setting an example. As a result a large version of the new logo adorns the back of a school bus he operates in the region. “The back of a big bus is a high visibility site, he said “and over time it will be seen by many thousands of people.” Mr Neal urged regional businesses to get behind the new campaign. “The reaction I have received is very positive,” he said. “People like the idea as well as the imagery and the CD that contains all the graphics make it easy to get involved.” Mayor Cr Mendy Urie commended Peter Neal for backing the new campaign. “This is just the kind of support we need to make the project work,” she said. “I encourage businesses and organisations across the region to get on board to show what a “Naturally Magic” region we have.”

Accommodation bookings through the Bairnsdale and Lakes Entrance Visitor Information Centres have smashed last year’s record levels a month before the end of the year. East Gippsland Shire’s Visitor Information Centre coordinator John Munns says the bookings have already broken last year’s record total and are on track to be around 14% up on 2006. Bookings to the end of November reached 585,093 compared to the 2006 twelve month total of 579,437. “This excellent result is despite the bushfires and floods that generally had a detrimental effect on tourism figures,” he said. Mr Munns said that telephone enquiries had also shown significant growth. “We are currently receiving an average of 50 enquiry calls per day and the Lakes Entrance Centre alone showed a 29 percent growth in November,” he said. Mayor, Cr Mendy Urie welcomed the results and said they proved the resilience of the East Gippsland region. “The extensive marketing and promotion that has been undertaken in recent months has been successful in attracting visitors back to our region,” she said. “With the recent launch of our new 'Naturally Magic’'branding and the new website, enquiries and reservations are bound to further increase along with renewed interest in East Gippsland.” “We are looking forward to a magic summer season this year and hopefully without any distractions.”

Relax and enjoy the unspoiled natural beauty with comforatable accommodation, expansive views, nativ

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The coastal region stretching from Lake Tyers in East Gippsland to Mimosa Rocks National Park in Southern New South Wales and inland towards Bombala was recently presented under the name Australia’s Coastal Wilderness to international tourism and travel representatives at a trade show in Perth. Held at the Australian Tourism Exchange the conference was attended by East Gippsland Mayor, Cr Mendy Urie, CEO Steve Kozlowski and Shire economic development and tourism coordinator Phil Rickards who is chair of the steering committee for Australia’s Coastal Wilderness. Mr Rickards said the launch that was part of the National Landscapes Program signalled a new era for tourism in East Gippsland and Southern New South Wales. “Devised by Tourism Australia and Parks Australia, the program was designed to identify the best of Australia’s natural and cultural landscapes that are inspirational destinations in their own right and that transcend borders and boundaries,” he said. “The landscapes also include Australia’s Red Centre, the Australian Alps, Kakadu, Flinders Ranges, the Great Ocean Road, Australia’s Green Cauldron (Mt Warning and surrounding areas inland from Byron Bay and the Gold Coast) and the Greater Blue Mountains. “These landscapes are to be marketed to the global audience known as Experience Seekers who want to get off the beaten track and immerse themselves in Australian nature and culture.” Mr Rickards said that from a marketing point of view, two of East Gippsland’s most spectacular natural assets, the High Country and parts of the beautiful coastal region would be now promoted internationally alongside other national icons under a high profile brand. “The other great benefit of the program is that it encourages stakeholders including land managers, tourism agencies, local government and industry to work closely together for the conservation of Australia’s outstanding natural and cultural experiences.” Cr Urie said the name chosen for the coastal region - Australia’s Coastal Wilderness – made the statement that we have a world-class destination right here in our own back yard. “Although there are other coastal wilderness areas around Australia our wilderness area is distinguished by its accessibility to visitors coming from Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra and its proximity to unique communities including Mallacoota, Bemm River and Eden that that are bases for exploring spectacular lakes, rivers, forests and beaches. In addtition, the linkage between the two National Landscapes, part of which lie in East Gippsland - Australia's Coastal Wilderness and the Australian Alps means that a strong marketing partnership can be formed. This will enable a more successful delivery of the product to the international and domestic markets so benefitting the tourism industry and numerous communities in both East Gippsland's coastal region and High Country. " she said.