Hundreds of Whitsunday locals attended Quota Whitsundays’ Dementia Morning Tea fundraiser and raised between five and six thousand dollars in support of Proserpine Nursing Home residents who are living with the devastating condition.

“It was amazing; we had over 160 people attend and it was a huge success,” Quota Whitsundays Inc. Event Coordinator Jacqui Barrett said.

“For a morning tea, that’s huge. The community businesses support and to have the community turn out like they did, even when there were other events on, that is extraordinary.

“Just a cup of tea together and look at what we can raise.”

Proserpine Nursing Home General Manager Susan Blyth spoke at the event, detailing how integral the funds raised would be for the Nursing Home’s Dementia Unit and Dementia Australia.

“Proserpine Nursing Home belongs to this community,” Ms Blyth said.

Nursing Home residents provided some of the day’s entertainment, performing some “Golden Oldie” songs, as well as routines from Edge Dance School, Chez’s House of Dance, and an Irish performance by Proserpine band ‘Momma’s and Pappa’s’.

The well-attended event was supported by almost every business in the Whitsundays, from Archers Soft drinks and Harry Brown to the Proserpine Museum, Red Cat Adventures, Plants Whitsunday, Nunkeri Place, and more, and the venue was provided by St Catherine’s Catholic College Proserpine.

Ms Barrett said that sixty-one prizes were donated from local businesses, totalling roughly $3000.

“It was very well supported from Proserpine and Airlie Beach,” she said.

“People just wanted to give and people approached us even on the day saying that they wanted to support us in future events.”

The over $5000 raised will be donated to the Proserpine Nursing Home and Dementia Australia.

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Over $5000 was raised by Quota Whitsundays Inc. at their well-supported community event, a Dementia Morning Tea fundraiser

Dancers from local studios provided a portion of the morning event’s entertainment

61 prizes were donated by local businesses from both Airlie Beach and Proserpine

160 people attended from the community and helped to raise the funds which will go to Dementia Australia and Proserpine Nursing Home

The tables of community members enjoyed the fruits of Quota’s labours: biscuits, high tea, cookies, brownies, and more

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Local families were feeling fortunate after a full day of free fun at Proserpine’s Pioneer Park for the Whitsunday Regional Council Get Active Family Fun Day.

The successful Whitsunday Regional Council facilitated mental health and wellbeing event invited the community out to enjoy workshops, fitness activities, games, food, information, and entertainment from local organisations.

Activities ranged from live music, sports booths, non-for-profit information stalls, face painting at the second Get Active event of the year, and the region’s third ever.

Parents enjoyed a bit of “relaxation time” as children went wild on the jumping castle, employed their burgeoning artistic skills with crafts, or braved a meeting with some of the Whitsundays’ local wildlife – a beautiful, opalescent snake.

Council will host two more Get Active events: Airlie Beach, Sunday, April 2; and Bowen, Saturday, April 15.

The Get Active Family Fun Day initiative is funded by the Queensland Government, Mental Health and Wellbeing Community Package under Queensland's Economic Recovery Strategy.

Images: Declan Durrant

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A young Whitsunday local has been picked for the Under 12’s Girls North Queensland Touch Football team on her third consecutive attempt to win a place.

Proving that determination truly pays off, Lanie Hazeltine was successful at trials in Ayr earlier this month.

“It’s a really good feeling!” she said.

“This was the third time I tried and the last time I could get into the team.”

Lanie started playing Touch Footy when she moved to the region two years ago.

Previously, she had been playing Oz Tag and her mother recommended Touch Footy as the local alternative.

In 2020 she represented the Whitsundays in the Under 12 Proserpine team while she was at primary school but was too young to enter the North Queensland Trials.

The following years, Lanie represented the Whitsundays again but was unsuccessful in reaching North Queensland, until this year.

It was her last opportunity to do so because she is now at the top of the age bracket.

“I love running,” she said.

“I play on the Wing, but I can play anywhere, and I love scoring goals!”

Lanie is looking forward to competing for North Queensland in Cairns in May and she is bringing her whole family along.

When asked what advice she would give to another young and aspiring sports star she said:

“Never give up and always keep pushing yourself.”

“My coach used to tell me to play hard, play until you drop dead on the floor and then you know you’ve done a good job.”

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Sports star Lanie Hazeltine plays for Under 12’s Girls North Queensland Touch Football. Photo credit: Rachael Smith

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BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort brought home its third gold award at the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards over the weekend, and they are celebrating being crowned our nation’s best in the Caravan and Holiday Parks Category once again.

The popular Whitsunday Resort has been owned and operated by the McKinnon family for the past 29 years and has seen a phenomenal transformation during that time to become the 4.5-star, multi-award-winning property that it is today.

Owner Greg McKinnon, who attended the awards ceremony on Friday night with both family and staff, was both ecstatic and emotional upon being announced as the national winner.

“As both a family and a team, we are all so very proud to win this award,” he said.

“The Australian Tourism Awards are the pinnacle of awards in our industry and we are so proud to not only have won gold but to have shared a part in celebrating the very best that Australia has to offer.”

BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort have a team of 74 warm, friendly and passionate staff who Greg credits with playing a big part in the success of his business.

“They can say that they work for the best park in Australia!” he said.

“That’s a wonderful reward for all their hard work.”

Over the past year, BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort has focused on its offerings for guests with accessible needs, including a new vision-impaired cabin, resort Braille signage, and of course, the resort’s Sensory Room, the Reilly Room, which caters for children on the autism spectrum and their families by offering a special holiday retreat.

With more exciting plans ahead, including Bunk House dormitory-style accommodation for groups and the budget FIT market, the Resort will soon be adding more new cabins and further developments to their resort pool area and Kid’s Club.

BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort has become synonymous with offering the very best Australian holiday experience. Loved by return guests for their consistently friendly service, concerted customer focus and commitment to continual improvement and innovation, the resort is the first choice for a Queensland holiday.

Set amongst 10 hectares of beautifully landscaped tropical gardens, it caters for a variety of budgets with a wide range of accommodation options from camping and caravanning sites to luxury, three-bedroom condos.

What does it take to top Australian tourism?

I think it comes down to always being at the top of your game – we’ve been operating for almost 30 years and entering awards for 27 – you can’t just keep putting in the same product, you’ve got to be innovative, and constantly developing the park so that we’re a leader within the industry – we always aim to exceed expectations.

What features make you the best?

We always aim to be the ‘first-of or the best-ofs’ – we weren’t the first waterpark but we put in 13 waterslides which was pretty amazing! But of course, it is also our fantastic staff - our staff are an integral part in making people’s holidays, and their overall experience, the best it can possibly be!

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Family and staff representing BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort at the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards over the weekend

Happy faces on the awards night

BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort boasts 13 waterslides

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Tourism operators across Queensland and the Whitsundays are celebrating this week following the 2022 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards, which were held in Sydney last Friday night.

This year, the sunshine state managed to take home the biggest scoop of national awards since 2018 and four of them came from businesses operating in the Mackay and Whitsunday region.

A Winning Weekend For Whitsunday Tourism

BIG 4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort took home gold for the best Caravan and Holiday Park category.

Red Cat Adventures’ Wild Cat tour, based in Mackay, was awarded gold for Best New Tourism Business in Australia.

Ocean Rafting won silver for the Best Adventure Tourism experience in the country and Magnums Unique Accommodation Airlie Beach were awarded Best 3 to 3.5 star Accommodation Category.

Our region scored four out of the coveted 16 national awards given to Queensland operators, enabling our state to rise above all the others for its tourism offering.

Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said that these results confirm that Queensland is Australia’s leading visitor destination.

“Queensland has literally scooped the pool at the Australian Tourism Awards,” he said.

“Congratulations to all Queensland Awards winners and finalists on an absolutely magnificent result.

“The resilience, commitment to success and creativity of Queensland tourism businesses really is second to none.”

The Australian Tourism Awards were not the only accolades brought home from operators in our region, with two other local businesses recognised for their achievement as well.

Queens Beach Tourist Village in Bowen was awarded Best Grey Nomad Large Caravan Park at February’s Great Nomad Awards.

This win accentuates the love Bowen has for the Grey Nomads and the large part they play in Bowen’s tourism industry.

In addition, Club Wyndham Airlie Beach was celebrated on an international level when it received an award for Best Interior Design for its $3 million presidential apartments refurbishment project at the GNEX Vacation Industry Awards earlier this month.

The three-level apartments have undergone a significant refurbishment with extended roof lines and extended facilities including outdoor bathrooms.

Tourism Whitsundays CEO, Rick Hamilton said he is thrilled with the win, stating it’s no surprise to see exceptional Whitsundays experiences acknowledged after a year of record expenditure and visitation.

“Everything about The Whitsundays is outstanding; our icons, our people and our experiences from Airlie Beach and the islands, Bowen in the north to Collinsville and Proserpine in the west,” he said.

“These awards are a testament to just how outstanding our region really is.

“Congratulations to all the winners, what an incredible achievement for your businesses but also for us all in The Whitsundays.”

Tourism Whitsundays Chair, Julie Telford said the tourism industry in The Whitsundays offers exceptional experiences to a wide range of travellers, and these awards really highlight this.

"Visitors to The Whitsundays can be young backpackers on their first East Coast Roadtrip, seasonal Grey Nomads on their tenth visit, or families seeking to bond together for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure,” she said.

“The Whitsundays is an incredible destination that caters to all demographics. Our region should be very proud of how passionate and hardworking our high-quality operators are.

"Everyone working in customer-facing jobs has exceptional service that shines through to our visitors to our Whitsundays.

"A huge congratulations to the winners and thank you to everyone who is sharing their passion for The Whitsundays with our visitors.”

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Aimee Cameron from Tourism Whitsundays, Asher and Julie Telford ownersof Red Cat Adventures, Mayor Julie Hall, Elizabeth Hackett from MagnumsAccommodation and Dan Gabbert from Wildcat Mackay

 Peter and Jan Claxton, owners of Ocean Rafting

 Greg and Jan McKinnon from BIG 4 Adventure Whitsunday

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Following 2018 Shark Attack Rescue

The rescue officer who risked his life by jumping into the water, just metres from a recent shark attack, in order to save the life of the victim, has just been honoured with an Australian Bravery Decoration.

RACQ CQ Rescue rescue crew officer Ben McCauley said he was “just doing his job” when he attended a series of three shark attacks in Cid Harbour on Whitsunday Island in 2018.

On that fateful year, the whole community was rocked when the previously safe harbour saw a spate of attacks within a couple of months.

Justine Barwick almost lost her leg when a shark attacked while she was swimming.

The following day, twelve-year-old Melbourne girl Hannah Papps’ leg was amputated above the knee after another shark attack.

Then, less than two months later 32-year-old Melbourne doctor Daniel Christidis sadly lost his life in a third shark attack.

Earlier this week Ben McCauley was commended by The Governor-General, His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley for his role in saving Justine Barwick.

Ben, who had only been with RACQ CQ Rescue for six months, attended the scene where Justine was found aboard a 39-foot yacht bleeding profusely with barely a pulse after being bitten while swimming.

“The shark had taken a huge chunk out of her inside leg, and she was bleeding out,” Ben explained.

“Her husband and friend on board had quickly packed the gaping wound to help stem the haemorrhaging and this undoubtedly saved her life.”

Unable to land due to high tides and inhibited by more than 30 other vessels anchored in the harbour, the rescue helicopter crew made the difficult decision to winch Justine out of an inflatable dinghy.

Ben was winched down out of the helicopter into the water – where the shark had been less than an hour earlier - and had to swim to a dinghy and climb on board.

Justine was secured into an ARV (Air Rescue Vest) and winched up with the rescue crewman into the helicopter within 20 minutes to be treated by a Critical Care Paramedic.

"To be honest I didn’t think about the shark in the water that day. When you're on the job, you're on the job; I had 100 other things that I was concentrating on other than the shark," said Ben.

Justine was taken to Mackay Base Hospital where she underwent emergency surgery before being sent to Brisbane the next day for an 18-hour vascular surgery to reconstruct her leg.

Five years after the incident which changed her life, Justine said she was very excited to hear of the news of Ben’s commendation.

“Ben was part of an extraordinary effort on that day,” she said.

“His contribution was fundamental to my survival. His bravery during my retrieval was amazing. It would seem to me that had Ben not taken advantage of what was very probably his only opportunity to reach me that the outcome for me would have been very different.

“Myself, my family and friends are all in debt to everyone who assisted in my journey through retrieval, survival, recovery, and rehab – but had I not been winched into that helicopter when I was, I doubt that I would have made it. Thank you to Ben and all at RACQ CQ Rescue. You are lifesavers.”

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RACQ CQ Rescue rescue crew officer Ben McCauley with shark attack victim Justine Barwick and fellow crew member Kevin Berry. Photo supplied

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When the kind-hearted gentlemen at the Airlie Beach Men’s Shed heard about the special delivery of supplies heading over to help families in Fiji and Vanuatu, they jumped at the opportunity to help out.

Recently, many South Sea Islander communities have been ravaged by a series of cyclones which, in many cases, have caused destruction to property and resulted in many homes needing extensive repairs.

Upon hearing about the destruction, Coral Sea Marina collaborated with four of their resident super yachts which have offered to transport donated goods to provide much-needed aid to these countries.

They will be departing on March 31 and over the past few weeks, dozens of people within the community have been donating clothes and other essential items.

Last Friday the local Men’s Shed also got involved by donating their surplus tools to the cause.

A large cut-off saw and several other battery-powered items such as grinders, sanders, drills and of course basic hand tools such as hammers were all packed up and sent off.

The night before, two Men’s Shed volunteers cleaned the tools, charged them up and ensured they were in good working order.

If you would like to donate, they are now taking donations of items such as nails, tarpaulins, hand tools, large cooking pots, laundry soap for cold water hand washing, female hygiene products, plastic bins with lids and first aid items.

Donations can be received at the Coral Sea Marina Office located above the Garden Bar Bistro.

All items must be clean and in good working order.

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Don Campbell and Alan Corney. Photo caption: Rachael Smith

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Hi Everyone,

This week it has been wonderful to see so many of our local tourism operators receive national acclaim and recognition for all their hard work at the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards which were held in Sydney last Friday night.

Our region brought home two golds, one silver and one bronze award, representing 25 per cent of the total awards given to all Queensland operators – this huge contribution helped enable our state to top all others and be crowned best state for tourism in our country.

Well done everyone!

We spoke with many of the operators this week (see our special feature on pages 10-13) and each was asked what it took to top Australian Tourism.

The four central pillars of success that the owners of these incredible businesses mentioned most were – passion, consistency, innovation and resilience.

I can see how these admirable qualities helped these businesses stay on track as they battled through challenging times such as Cyclone Debbie, Covid 19 and the restrictions that followed.

It was resilience that got them through and saw them come out smiling on the other side.

It was innovation that allowed them to pivot their business model and adapt to a changing tourism landscape.

It was consistency that saw them show up every morning and deliver a quality product no matter what.

And of course what ties it all together is passion – with enthusiasm, motivation and a genuine love for their jobs promoting the magical holiday destination of the Whitsundays – anything is possible!

Once again, a huge congratulations to everyone involved in the local tourism industry – from crew to cleaners, owners to skippers, the wonderful team at Tourism Whitsundays and of course each of us in the community for providing a warm welcome.

Rach

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Quote of the week:

“If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life” (Marc Anthony)

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Calling for immediate action and a “crisis response” to the housing situation in the Whitsundays, Council has moved into strong advocacy mode by calling on the Australian Government to extend the deadline for the operation of the National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS).

At Wednesday’s ordinary meeting in Bowen, Mayor Julie Hall and Councillors voted unanimously to submit a motion to the Australian Local Government Association for potential inclusion in the National General Assembly 2023 Business Papers.

“As an elected advocate for our Whitsunday community, I am committed to creating a region where everyone should have access to safe, secure, and affordable housing,” said Mayor Hall.

“Unfortunately, many families and individuals in our community are currently struggling to find affordable rental accommodation, and this is a problem that needs urgent attention from the top tiers of government.”

Mayor Hall was recently contacted by a resident who said he would be homeless in June as well as his 82-year-old neighbour because the NRAS will end for them, and they can’t afford the 30 per cent increase in their rent.

The NRAS scheme helps people afford housing by providing incentives to property investors to build and rent out affordable housing, helping to increase the supply of rental properties and lower rental prices.

When the program begins its staggered shut-down soon, it will affect many households right across the region.

Mayor Hall says she is determined to advocate strongly for its extension.

“Families, couples and singles are counting on the Federal and State governments to act and it breaks my heart that homelessness is on the rise,” she said.

Homelessness in Queensland has increased by 22 per cent, and a recent report by the Queensland Council of Social Service revealed 300,000 people across Queensland are experiencing housing insecurity amid soaring rental prices and inadequate social housing supply.

“This is a crisis, and it deserves a crisis response,” said Mayor Hall.

“In the decade leading up to 2017, there was "minimal" investment by state and federal governments in affordable and social housing.”

Mayor Hall said the housing shortage and rental crisis are not issues that emerged overnight so there are no “quick fixes” that will see the problem disappear.

“Advocacy on behalf of my community to ensure they are not forgotten will be key as it is going to take a whole range of short, medium and long-term solutions to fix this crisis,” she said.

“By extending the NRAS, we can continue to create opportunities for our residents to secure affordable housing, and we can also support our local economy by encouraging investment in our region.”

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The whole community are invited down to Cannonvale State School on Monday for a social evening with food vans, good company, and a silent auction to keep everyone entertained.

All proceeds will go to Sunrise Nursery and Primary School in Uganda and the money will go towards helping them build the necessary toilet blocks which are required in order for them to stay open.

On the night, attendees can bid for a range of artworks which have been donated by students, parents and the broader school community.

A sociable event for families, there will be two food vans on-site – Fussea Buggers serving up a hot dinner menu and Rilo real fruit ice-cream which will make a delicious dessert.

Bidding begins at 5.30pm and the winners will be announced at 7pm.

WHAT: Sunrise Silent Art Auction

WHEN: Monday, March 27 from 5.30pm

WHERE: Cannonvale State School

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Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox and State Member for Whitsunday Amanda Camm were “shocked” by Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey’s “political spin” when questioned about the Bruce Highway – Goorganga Plains Upgrade project in early March.

The Queensland Member of Parliament announced last week that planning was underway to floodproof the flood-prone sections of the Bruce Highway at Goorganga Plains and Myrtle Creek, as well as Hamilton Plains, in a coordinated approach.

Minister Bailey made the announcement despite the fact the three projects have been in the planning stages since late 2018.

“By addressing Myrtle Creek, Hamilton Plains and Goorganga Plains together, the Department of Transport and Main Roads will be able to improve flood resilience in the area,” he said.

Ms Camm called it an “announcement that doesn’t announce anything.”

“Minister Bailey should have been honest with the people of the Whitsundays and just said that the $12m, that the previous Federal Coalition Government put on the table since 2018 to start the planning for Goorganga has sat idle,” The Member for Whitsunday said.

“The Queensland Government has prioritised projects in the South East over the safety of regional Australians.”

The Goorganga Plains upgrade, alongside the Hamilton Plains project, received funding from the previous Federal Government in 2018 and 2019 through lobbying efforts of past Federal Member for Dawson George Christensen.

Mr Willcox said in his time as Mayor of Whitsunday Regional Council, he worked alongside Mr Christensen to secure funding from the Roads of Strategic Importance Program.

“All this money already committed thanks to the previous [Federal Government], yet our Queensland Government allow us year after year to be flooded in with residents unable to get to loved ones,” Mr Willcox said.

“Labor’s had 5 years to design and develop a plan to flood mitigate Goorganga Plains, yet in this new re-announcement they’re still seeking community consultation.”

Ms Camm questioned whether Mr Bailey re-iterating an almost five-year-old project was to "hide the fact that Hamilton Plains Upgrade project is being delayed”.

Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox said he was “appalled” by what he said was a “politics-before-people tactic”.

“[The State Government] are using a 2018 Coalition Government commitment to run an ad hoc political campaign at the expense of the Dawson people,” Mr Willcox said.

“We’ve seen year after year that this Government only prioritises the Southeast Corner and we are tired of it.”

A business case for the Bruce Highway upgrades at Goorganga Plains and Myrtle Creek was “expected to be completed by early 2023” according to a Transport and Main Roads spokesperson.

Minister Bailey said the flood immunity upgrade project is “currently in the detailed design phase with construction expected to commence next year.”

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Whitsunday politicians are upset by a lack of movement on the Goorganga Plains flood resilience upgrades

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Car enthusiasts will gather in Cannonvale on Sunday to show-off their dazzling automobiles, offering the community a rare opportunity to wander around the display and interact with the owners.

Organised by the Whitsunday Old Iron Restorer’s Club, the Show and Shine Event will exhibit some of the region’s much-loved cars, four-wheel drives, and motorbikes from the 1950s through to the 1970s.

Anyone is welcome to come and join in the fun, bring along their vehicle to exhibit or simply come along to view the display.

WHAT: Show and Shine

WHEN: Sunday, March 26 from 10am

WHERE: Banjo’s Bar and Bistro carpark

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The team at Red Cat Adventures are celebrating as their sister company, Wildcat Mackay, brings home the gold award for Best New Tourism Business in the country at the Qantas Australia Tourism Awards held in Sydney on Friday night.

Red Cat Adventures were inducted into Queensland Tourism’s Hall of Fame, after winning best Major Tour and Transport Operator and Best Adventure Tourism Operator for three consecutive years.

Owners Julie and Asher Telford say that, after such a successful 10 years, it has been a pleasure to launch a new business that showcases Mackay “in a way that didn’t exist previously.”

Upon accepting the award on Friday night, Julie said she felt humbled by the unexpected win.

“To say the cards were stacked against us would be an understatement!” she said.

“To be recognised as Australia’s best new tourism business is testament to the innovation and tenacity involved and proof of our ability to design and develop new tourism experiences that people want.”

Wildcat launched in December 2021 and since this date has offered daily tours to either Scawfell, Cockermouth, Brampton or Keswick islands, with the location handpicked to suit the tides and weather of the day.

Tours depart the Mackay Marina at 9.30am, returning at 4.30pm and include snorkelling, paddleboarding, beachcombing and informative eco-history commentary, as well as morning and afternoon tea and lunch, with drinks from the licensed bar.

Trip advisor awarded Wildcat Mackay the 2021 Certificate of Excellence and in November 2022 won Gold for New Tourism Business at the Queensland Tourism Awards.

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Wildcat Mackay owners Julie and Asher Telford, pictured with Operations Manager Dan Gabbert, holding their award for Best New Tourism Award in Australia. Photo supplied

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Bowen are proving that they are the top pick for travelling retirees from around the country thanks to a local caravan park winning a national accolade, taking home gold at the recent Grey Nomads Awards.

Queens Beach Tourist Village (QBTV) won the Best Grey Nomad Large Caravan Park category for the third time at a virtual awards ceremony which was held in February.

Park Caretaker, Gerry Tomsett said that the awards recognise and reward businesses and services that provide exemplary products or experiences for mature-aged travellers in Australia.

She believes that QBTV won gold because they look after the comforts of the over 50s and provide a warm, friendly service to all.

“We have a nice community here,” she said.

“We have wonderful accommodation which is level and flat, no hills, so it is easy for the over 50s to access.

“We also have entertainment every fortnight, water aerobics and craft afternoons where everyone has a lot of fun.”

Owners Peter and Jennie Greer said they were thrilled to win for the third time.

“Thanks to all our Grey Nomads who choose to stay with us on their extended holidays, we look forward to welcoming you back to the village very soon,” they said.

“Thanks also to the staff and judges at the Grey Nomad Awards for hosting an incredible event from start to finish.”

QBTV won gold at the Grey Nomad Awards in 2019, 2021 and 2022 – if they win next years’ 2023 award they will be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

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The Queens Beach Tourist Village team celebrating their big win. Photo supplied

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Ocean Rafting has another trophy for their cabinet following last weekend’s Qantas Australian Tourism Awards, which saw them take out silver in the highly competitive Adventure Tourism Category.

With over 25 years in business, Ocean Rafting has been awarded multiple gold, silver and bronze accolades on a national level over the years, and owners Peter and Jan Claxton say that each award is a credit to consistently delivering a quality product.

“We really want to thank our incredibly dedicated and passionate staff, which includes a team of four recognised Master Reef Guides, who do an amazing job not only showcasing the wonders of the Whitsunday Islands and Great Barrier Reef, but in protecting these precious assets and educating our guests about what they can do to make a difference,” said Peter.

“After over 25 years of operations, we will never stop appreciating every single one of these awards.

“We also certainly couldn’t have done it without our guests, who we love to see on the ride of their life!”

Ocean Rafting has eight semi-rigid inflatable vessels and one 7-seater Australian-built Airvan which took to the skies almost a year ago.

This new dimension to the business means that, along with other partner aircraft, they can now offer the ultimate Whitsunday experiences from above, on and below the water.

A true multi-generational operation, Ocean Rafting has three generations of the family actively involved in daily operations, making it connected to its humble beginnings, while being famed for its innovative approach and for acting as a leader in Whitsunday marine tourism and aviation operations.

Offering two exciting day tour adventures, Ocean Rafting has special permits that enable it to showcase one of Australia's most iconic beaches, Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet, as well as flights over the world-renowned Heart Reef, on a daily basis.

Guests can choose from the Northern Exposure and Southern Lights, with an exhilarating ride to Whitehaven Beach, the ultimate access to Hill Inlet and special snorkelling sites, as well as the Fly and Raft package, 60-minute scenic flights, charter options and the Reef Seeker environmental educational program.

The fleet of eight semi-rigid inflatable vessels allows guests to experience an adrenalin-fuelled ride amongst the beauty of the Whitsundays, while a maximum of 32 passengers per vessel, allows for a personalised experience in the pleasure of a small group.

“We sincerely thank our many industry partners and tourism bodies, with whom we work, both within Australia and the world over,” said Peter.

“It’s a team effort and we have all worked cohesively to place the Whitsundays on the map as the ultimate Whitsunday holiday destination.”

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What does it take to top Australian Tourism?

It takes hard work! But it also takes innovation, which as you can imagine, is imperative when you have the length of operations we have, so we continually reinvest in the business and just don’t take our finger off the pulse. It also takes passion, but we love what we do, our family loves it and our team love it.

Our culture is aligned to strong values that are reflective of a family business committed to best practice standards. And very importantly, we always aim to provide the best possible experience we can for our guests, which is reflected in our number one position on TripAdvisor, while protecting our precious Great Barrier Reef Marine Park as proud reef ambassadors!

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Ocean Rafting owners Jan and Peter Claxton at the national awards last Friday

It’s a team effort: Peter and Jan Claxton with team members Tiffany Brett and Nathan Fleming

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