Postcards Television Production

The Postcards team were here filming last week for an Echuca-Moama television program.
All went well, the weather was perfect and the outcome will see the region being promoted nationally.

Sunrise Morning Show

Monday 15th March saw the region being promoted every half hour from 6am to 9am with Grant Denyer hosting the weather segment in Echuca-Moama. This sort of publicity is simply gold!

Events & Festivals

Last weekend saw a monster events and festivals weekend and clearly proved that multiple events work brilliantly. It was great to see such a cross section of demographics, the weather simply could not have been better and the multitude of reports back from Melbourne to Echuca-Moama has been brilliant.
A HUGE thank you to all involved, a fantastic effort!

Echuca Moama Events

Week one has passed and EMT has now moved up to another level.
it is a very exciting time with Pete White and team kept extremely busy laying down the foundation work to ensure that this body becomes a major force in events, festivals, weddings and conference activities in regional Victoria.
If any member has any queries regarding this exciting new venture please note the following contact details:
GM Events: Pete White
Telephone: 03-5480 7555
Mobile: 0412 38 41 65
Email: pete@echucamoama.com.au

Boys Own Weekend Famil

Next week see’s another large media famil. This group will be represented by Tourism NSW, Tourism Victoria with journalists attending from Fairfax, News Ltd, Inside Sport, Mens Health, Melbourne AGE and a feature writer.
This is a great opportunity to showcase our region to Sydney media interests.Virgin Blue are flying them to Melbourne where EMT will collect and transfer to Echuca. A big thank you to John Cunningham and his team at Echuca Toyota for providing a brand new Camry Hybrid for the transfers!

Wedding Business

This week saw our new Events department meet with the Expo committee and a very productive discussion and planning session was had with some exciting plots, plans and schemes going forward. Please note the 2010 Echuca Wedding Expo is fast approaching.
Also note that the new group will be having a stand at the upcoming  ‘’I Do Wedding Expo’’ to be held in Bendigo on Sunday 18th April.

Official Visitors Guide

The latest edition is now on its way with advertising opportunities being launched to all EMT Members. This edition will see a brand new A4 format so as to allow our region to ‘’cut above the clutter’’ by standing out in brochure racks. A coffee table style layout will ensure that the images of the region are depicted in the very best possible way. Advertising opportunities are now out and it is first in best dressed so please get your bookings in asap. Should any Member require any advice or assistance please do not hesitate to contact:
Gayle Stutcbery
Telephone: 5480 7555
Email: gayle@echucamoama.com

Air Access Update

The meeting to decide and appoint the successful tender to undertake the Murray Air Access Development Feasibility Study will take place at 11am on Friday 26th March. We will advise the tenderer and time lines going forward on Monday 29th March.

Metro Radio

A week long metro radio campaign commences in Melbourne on the 22nd March. The theme is generic, the purpose is to top up Echuca Moama for Easter with the call to action being the www.echucamoama.com  web site.

Promotional Video

EMT has landed a significant funding opportunity to enable a first class video production company to produce a video of our region. The filming will touch on the key components of our region inclusive of events and festivals. This production is to be done in such a way so as to allow us to use it for television campaigns, web site promotion, trade & consumer shows and commercial presentations. Work is due to commence in April this year. All EMT Members will have free access to this production for their own individual marketing requirements.

Tourism Awards

The awards process is a great way to generate business and recognition for your own enterprise and for the region generally.
The process is a bit daunting particulary to the first timers. We are keen to have as many member products represented at this years Tourism Awards and to that end have now ‘’plugged’’ into a $15,000 grant to employ the services of a Project Manager to assist you through each stage of the awards process. Once we have appointed the PM we will advise details.

RSVP Events Trade Show

EMT  will again be representing the region at this major events trade show in Melbourne in May.
Details and opportunities will be made available in April so please keep an eye on this space.

New Members

Service & Trade – Ace Radio 3WM/Mix-FM – Sharon Schwarz
3WM/Mix-FM and The Weekly Advertiser each have a potential reach of over 66,000 people throughout the Wimmera/Mallee region. Horsham is around 300kms northwest of Melbourne & 450kms southeast of Adelaide, on the main rail & roads routes linking Victoria with Adelaide. Over a million tourists visit the region each year to visit the Grampians National Park. If you get the chance tune in & listen, do so…

Café / Restaurant – The Bean Team – Paula Ryan & Peter Brewer
This is a Mobile Coffee Van (original “Bean Roasted” owners) servicing local events in Echuca and surrounding districts. They are providing great quality coffee and service including light snacks. Their specialty, Cappuccino, Latte, Mocha, Chai & Hot Chocolate etc! So look out for the ‘Bean Team’ in the Silver Van and they look forward to servicing you again, with great coffee and great service…

Service & Trade – Integra Personnel – Belinda Nepean
Specialising in recruitment and Labour Hire Services, Integra Personnel are available to assist small and large businesses across a vast range of industries. Operating as a private entity, they have the flexibility to tailor their services to client requirements and strive to provide good quality staffing solutions. Integra Personnel tend to all statutory requirements under a casual arrangement and have employees with specialised skills available to you at short notice. This allows you to adjust rapidly and with ease to fluctuating workload demands or maintain your regular workload in the absence of your permanent staff. Give them a call today to determine how they can take the hassle out of your human resource management and leave you to do what you do best, run your business.

Accommodation – Annesley House – Cheryl Brady
Hosts, Jason and Cheryl, welcome you to Annesley House. Their property is a large fully renovated miner’s cottage located only 800 meters from the Echuca CBD and a pleasant 10 minute walk to the Port precinct.
Inside - Annesley house has four large bedrooms, three with queen size beds and the 4th has two sets of bunk beds.
The property has one large bathroom, laundry, kitchen with formal meals area and a large lounge room. Annesley House is tastefully decorated and is very homely with quality fittings and appointments. The property has air conditioning and ample heating for the winter period.
Outside – Annesley House has a court yard roman bath style pool, an undercover barbeque area with tables and seating. There is room off street for up to 3 vehicles, cottage gardens and an undercover deck alongside the pool.
Inspections welcomed – Fully self contained including linen and towels.
Something for everyone, so get in & check this one out.

Service & Trade – JM Consulting – Jan Morrison
The Principal of J. M. Consulting, Jan Morrison, has many years of experience in training for Businesses as well as a Teaching & successful Retail Business Owner background. At J. M. Consulting they offer you personalized service to meet the Training needs of your business. They come to you to discuss what Training is necessary and design a Training Plan to meet the requirements of entire staff, sections or individual employees within your enterprise. Traineeships are a specialty service, whether they are for Existing or New employees.
Why not take advantage of the “dollar incentives” offered by the Government to encourage businesses to Train and Up Skill their staff. So call Jan today!

Café / Restaurant – Bean Roasted – Anna Rizzo & John Cusano
This contemporary Café is located on the corner of Pakenham St, & Annesley St, Echuca. New owner John & Anna are happy to accommodate all, with a wide variety of coffees and great food. From the Short Black, Cappuccino, Vienna, Latte, Chai and they remember the kids as well, with Milkshakes, Fresh Fruit Smoothes and the list goes on. Dine in relaxing in comfort or Outside for that Alfresco feeling. So for the avid coffee enthusiasts call into ‘Bean Roasted’!

Visitor Information Centre Stats for February

Visitor Numbers

February 2009- 4618

February 2010- 4773

Phone Calls

February 2009- 1315

February 2010- 1685

Mail Out

February 2009- 497

February 2010- 324

E-Mails from Website

February 2009- 438

February 2010- 179

In February we saw a decrease in ‘Mail Out’ and ‘E-Mails from Website’ however this is due to the new website including much more information and the Official Visitors Guide being able to be downloaded.

Outside of the VIC Building to be Refreshed

We are pleased to report that the Shire of Campaspe has scheduled for the painting of the outside of the VIC Building. This will begin this week and completed prior to Easter.

VIC Staff

The VIC welcomes two new staff members Jenn Rendel and Sarah Milgate. Jenn and Sarah have begun familiarisations but still have many more places to visit! They complete famils over the next few months. 

Thought Of The Week

‘’The Turtle only make’s progress when it stick’s it’s neck out’’