Ministerial Statement: The Workshops Rail Museum up for Australian Tourism Award

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Minister for Education and Training and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Rod Welford
29/02/2008

The Workshops Rail Museum up for Australian Tourism Award

Minister for the Arts Rod Welford has congratulated The Workshops Rail Museum in Ipswich, which is in the running to be named Australia's best heritage and cultural tourism attraction at a ceremony in Canberra tonight.

"The Workshops Rail Museum was named as the state winner in the Australian Tourism Award for Heritage and Cultural Tourism last year," Mr Welford.

"Tonight I wish them the very best as they join an outstanding field of nominees in the running for Australia's top heritage and cultural tourism prize.

"The Workshops Rail Museum has achieved remarkable growth since opening in 2002, attracting more than 85,000 visitors last financial year.

"Their nomination for this national award is a huge honour and a wonderful achievement for the Museum's talented and dedicated team."

The other finalists for the Australian Tourism Award for Heritage and Cultural Tourism are the 2007 winners from each state and territory - Port Arthur Historic Site (TAS), Jewish Museum of Australia (VIC), National Capital Exhibition (ACT), Donnelly River Cruises (WA), Ayers House Museum (SA), Venture North (NT) and Bells Milk Bar (NSW).

Set at the birthplace of rail in Queensland, The Workshops Rail Museum showcases more than 15 state-of-the-art and wholly interactive exhibitions that explore the past, present and future of rail from a technological and social perspective.

Visitors can also see restoration and maintenance work on Queensland's Heritage Fleet during a Behind the Scenes Tour of the QR (Queensland Rail) Workshop.

Key events held throughout the year include Circus Train, Wizards and Witches Express, Ipswich Model Railway Show, Annual Workers Reunion and Ipswich Residents Open Day and The Workshops Rail Museum's annual signature event, Friends of Thomas.

The Workshops Rail Museum is a campus of the Queensland Museum and is located at North Street, North Ipswich.

For further information or for ticket prices, please call (07) 3432 5100 or visit www.theworkshops.qm.qld.gov.au

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[ozbob]

RAIL Back On Track congratulates the Workshops Rail Museum for being the Queensland winner and in the running with the other nominees for the Australian Tourism Award.

I personally have enjoyed many visits there and it is a museum with something for all to be particularly proud of.  A fine collection of our rail heritage with value added for children and adults in terms of educational activities.

Good luck!

Ozbob

[ozbob]

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S !!

The Workshops Rail Museum has won  the Australian Tourism Award ? Cultural and Heritage section.

Well done.

-->  http://www.theworkshops.qm.qld.gov.au/

[ozbob]

Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry
The Honourable Desley Boyle
29/02/2008

Ipswich's Workshop Rail Museum steams to national tourism award

The Workshop Rail Museum has been honoured at the prestigious 2007 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards, Tourism Minister Desley Boyle said this evening at the National Convention Centre in Canberra.

Ms Boyle said Queensland tourism triumphed this taking seven of the 25 categories.

"Of these, Ispwich's Workshop Rail Museum won the Heritage and Cultural Tourism category," Ms Boyle said.

"The $20 million Workshops Rail Museum is a fun-filled historical attraction that has established itself as one of the region's most important tourism assets and continues to set high standards in heritage and cultural tourism. "

The museum was a Queensland Tourism Award winner and progressed to the 2007 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards, organised annually by the National Tourism Alliance.

Ms Boyle said the other Queensland winners were:
? The Quicksilver Group, Tropical North Queensland, Major Tour and/or Transport Operator
? Cairns Coconut Caravan Resort, Tropical North Queensland, Tourist and Caravan Parks
? Bungalow Bay Koala Village, Townsville, Backpacker Accommodation
? The Noorla Heritage Resort, Ingham, Standard Accommodation
? Rubyvale Gem Gallery, North of Emerald, Specialised Tourism Services
? Tourism Noosa, Noosa, Tourism Marketing.

"The fact Queensland won more awards than any other state or territory clearly demonstrates the depth, diversity and quality of Queensland tourism experiences and products," she said.

"Queensland has long been recognised not just in Australia, but throughout the world, as a leader in the developing high quality, unique tourism experiences and tonight's triumph is a fitting tribute.

"I am very proud of this wonderful achievement and warmly congratulate Queensland's national winners."

Victoria and New South Wales each won five awards, the ACT won three awards, Western Australia and South Australia each won two awards and Tasmania won one award.

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[ozbob]

Minister for Education and Training and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Rod Welford
29/02/2008

Queensland boasts Australia's best Heritage and Cultural Tourism attraction

The Workshops Rail Museum in Ipswich has taken out the nation's top prize for Heritage and Cultural Tourism at the Australian Tourism Awards, held in Canberra overnight.

Arts Minister Rod Welford said the national accolade had confirmed Queensland was a major player in the cultural tourism market.

"The rest of Australia is starting to take notice of what's happening here in Queensland - we've got more to offer than just sun, surf and sand," Mr Welford said.

"Cultural tourism is a significant driver for visitors to Queensland and the Workshops Rail Museum is a strong tourism drawcard for the region.

"The Workshops Rail Museum offers visitors an exciting mix of history, interactive experiences and public programs for all ages.

"This facility provides a unique cultural experience for tourists and locals, and last year attracted more than 85,000 visitors.

"It is a great honour for the Workshops Rail Museum to receive this national accolade, especially among such a distinguished field of nominees.

"I congratulate the talented and dedicated team at The Workshops for their success."

CEO of the Queensland Museum Dr Ian Galloway said The Workshops Rail Museum had achieved remarkable growth since opening in 2002.

"The Workshops' success is testament to the quality experience on offer and the dedication of Museum staff and the staff in the QR (Queensland Rail) workshops," Dr Galloway said.

A campus of the Queensland Museum and set at the birthplace of rail in Queensland, The Workshops Rail Museum showcases more than 15 state-of-the-art and wholly interactive exhibitions that explore the past, present and future of rail from a technological and social perspective.

Finalists for the Australian Tourism Award for Heritage and Cultural Tourism were - Port Arthur Historic Site (TAS), Jewish Museum of Australia (VIC), National Capital Exhibition (ACT), Donnelly River Cruises (WA), Ayers House Museum (SA), Venture North (NT) and Bells Milk Bar (NSW).

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[ozbob]

Media Release 1 March 2008

Australia:  The Workshops Rail Museum wins national tourism award

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport has congratulated The Workshops Rail Museum (1) for winning the nation's top prize for Heritage and Cultural Tourism at the Australian Tourism Awards.

Robert Dow said:

?Railways are integral to the history and future of Australia.  No where is the important role that railways have played in our Nation?s development better demonstrated than at the The Workshops Rail Museum at Ipswich.?

?RAIL Back On Track congratulates that staff and volunteers at The Workshops Rail Museum for taking out the National Award for Heritage and Cultural Tourism.  This is an appropriate recognition for what is a world class museum.?

?Also a working museum, it is appropriate to acknowledge the ongoing commitment of  Queensland Rail to heritage.  A commitment that is appreciated by all.?

?I have spent many happy hours wondering at the many exhibits at the museum. It is a place that revives the great early days of rail in a magical way.?

?The great days of rail will no doubt return again in a new form as we move towards a sustainable transport future,? said Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track.

Reference:

1.  http://www.theworkshops.qm.qld.gov.au/

Contact:

Robert  Dow

Administration
admin@backontrack.org RAIL Back On Track
http://backontrack.org

[ozbob]

From The west.com.au click here!


Qld a winner at nation's tourism awards

Qld a winner at nation's tourism awards
1st March 2008, 10:41 WST

Click here to find out more!
Queensland won seven categories at the Australian Tourism Awards, giving the state a boost after a wet summer cost it millions of tourist dollars.

The sunshine state won the most awards of any state or territory, showing the quality, diversity and depth of Queensland's tourism industry, State Tourism Minister Desley Boyle said.

"Queensland has long been recognised not just in Australia, but throughout the world as a leader in the development of high quality, unique tourism experiences," she said.

"The fact that so many Queensland operators have been named among the best is a fitting tribute."

The Quicksilver Group in north Queensland won the major tour and or transport operator category, while Bungalow Bay Koala Village at Townsville took out the best backpacker accommodation category.

Noorla Heritage Resort at Ingham in north Queensland won the standard accommodation category, while Cairns Coconut Caravan Resort was voted best caravan park.

Tourism Noosa won the tourism marketing ward.

Rubyvale Gem Gallery, north of Emerald, took the specialised tourism services category, and the Workshops Rail Museum at Ipswich won the Heritage and Cultural Tourism award.

Queensland Tourism Industry Council chief executive Daniel Gschwind said the recognition was a welcome boost to the industry, which had lost tens of millions of dollars in revenue following the state's wet summer and flooding.

"It's been a particularly dismal time for the industry, and we needed a bit of a good boost," Mr Gschwind told AAP.

He said the recognition for regional and rural operators was particularly pleasing.

"It shows the strength of our regional industry and the gritty determination of the operators," he said.

Despite attracting millions of visitors a year, the Gold Coast failed to win a single gong at the awards.

Former deputy prime minister Tim Fischer praised Ipswich's Workshops Rail Museum.

"If Ipswich beat the Gold Coast, well, that must raise eyebrows, but certainly Ipswich Workshops Rail Museum deserved its big nationwide win," Mr Fischer, who is host of the ABC's Great Train Show, told AAP.

"It's the greatest Anglo Cape, narrow-gauge railway museum in the world bar none."

Mr Fischer said a world congress of international rail heritage would come to Ipswich in November 2009, with many delegates from Europe.
AAP