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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2019-11-27 Daily Xml
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SA Tourism Awards

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE (Chaffey—Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development) (15:11): I rise to speak about some of the great people of the Riverland and their achievements of late. Several Riverland tourist operators were recently recognised across a number of categories at tourism's night of nights. Now in their 35th year, the South Australian Tourism Awards celebrate and acknowledge tourism businesses that have demonstrated outstanding achievement and success throughout the year. Five Riverland businesses attended the awards, joining more than 700 industry representatives and colleagues from around the state.

The evening saw Riverland businesses crowned best in their respective categories and one taking home a silver. Tony and Susie Sharley, owners of Murray River Walk, an outstanding tourism operation and one of the great 10 walks of Australia, entered the Hall of Fame through their Murray River Walk. They were named winners and consequently inducted into the Hall of Fame in only their fourth year in business. It is an outstanding effort. Tony and his team and Susie took out the Ecotourism category for the third consecutive year, which is a phenomenal effort, so congratulations.

The BIG4 Renmark Riverfront Holiday Park won gold in the Excellence in Accessible Tourism category, taking it two years in a row. Those of you who have been to the Riverland and have visited the BIG4 caravan park know that it is an outstanding asset to the region on the banks of the mighty River Murray. It is child-friendly and I cannot speak highly enough of the park. It is fantastic to have Riverland tourism businesses leading the way in accessible tourism and welcoming people to the region.

Rob and Jenna Hughes, owners of River Murray Houseboats, took home gold in the Unique Accommodation category, after being awarded silver in the same category last year. First-time entrants PS JulieFay took out silver in the same highly competitive category. I must also mention Riverland finalist Twenty Third Street Distillery on a fantastic achievement representing our region.

While I am on the subject of great tourism products, I would like to congratulate Berri Riverside Holiday Park, owned by the Berri War Memorial Community Centre, which was recently awarded Best Community Campsite at the inaugural Grey Nomad Awards. These awards were held on the Sunshine Coast. Congratulations to them. It is a huge acknowledgement for the board and the staff, who should be extremely proud of this national recognition.

Last Friday night, the South Australian Premier's Food and Beverage Industry Awards took place, and it was a great night in general. The stalwarts of the food and beverage industry, the mentors, the new entrants and those people who are passionate about food and beverage came out for a night of nights. Nearly 750 people attended, and it really was a great display of South Australia at its best.

Local person Dave Reilly, the Managing Director of Gurra Downs, was recognised on Friday evening with the 2019 South Australian Premier's Food and Beverage Industry Duncan MacGillivray Entrepreneur Award. It was an outstanding effort by both him and his son, Shaun, who is now stepping into his shoes and running the business, and they are ably assisted by Anita, Dave's wife. They have an outstanding business there, and their product is second to none. Dave planted his first date palm in 1998 and has played a key role in establishing the date industry right around the nation. Gurra Downs is now Australia's largest date producer, and Dave has a huge focus on agricultural diversification.

I would like to wish two local ladies, Carolyn Huckel and Hayley Morrow, good luck: they are both finalists in the South Australian Woman Awards event being held this evening. We wish them all the best. Carolyn has been nominated for the Regional Star category for her Crossfield Cottage accommodation and her attention to detail when welcoming guests. Hayley has been nominated in the New Woman on the Block Award for her biscuit business, Zynski Bakes, which has been very successful in the Chaffey electorate.

I am buoyed to see regional communities, particularly in the Riverland and in the seat of Chaffey, achieving state and national levels of success. It is an absolute inspiration when I travel through the regions of South Australia, as I do when I travel home, to see those entrepreneurial skills being put on display, whether it is in a tourism business, a food business or a beverage business. Those people are giving guidance and driving the economy. They are great South Australians, they are great Riverlanders, they are great ambassadors for regional South Australia and they are great ambassadors for South Australia.

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