Blackwood River Valley Contacts
Blackwood River Valley Contacts
If you need to contact a representative from any of the towns in the Blackwood River Valley for more information or comments, then please use the links on the left side of the page.
Blackwood River Valley Marketing Association - A Brief
History
(established over 20 years)
- Originally Created in 1984-when the Blackwood River Valley shires as one voice agreed to unite the valley in the promotion/awareness of tourism to the region i.e.: Boyup Brook, Bridgetown/Greenbushes, Donnybrook/Balingup and Nannup- with the following main objectives:-
- To increase tourist/visitor time spent within the valley.
- To market and promote the region as a tourist/visitor destination
- The management committee consisted of a shire rep (or deputy) and a tourist centre rep (or deputy) from within each of the four shires.
- It initially was slow to gain support but the Shires continued to
give an annual donation of 20 cents per head of population-Note: - Boyup
Brooks contribution in 1984 was $300.00 and has only increased as from
1994 to $500.00.
- In 1994 it was decided that tourism operators
should be encouraged to take an active interest in promoting the Valley and their business so membership of the Blackwood
River Valley Tourism Association was made available. The tourist/visitor centre reps are now
preferably tourism operators.
- The four Tourist Centres have been encouraged to THINK REGIONALLY and when events such as the “ Holiday and Travel Show” occurred in Perth and Fremantle were each asked to contribute to a Blackwood River Valley stand, which they did for a period of some 5 to 6 years so as to jointly promote the Valley [plus saving expenses]. This again worked well with each centre contributing a quarter share - about $400.00 each, plus volunteer helpers.
Over the years a great deal has been achieved for the Blackwood
River Valley by a dedicated band of followers:
- In 1992 at the Royal Show in Perth participated in Boyup Brook’s ‘ GUEST
TOWN ‘promotion, where each Valley shire set up their individual
display within the tent to augment the main display from Boyup Brook.
- In
1994 with assistance of the SWDC a mobile display unit was purchased,
and resulted in many regional shows, expos and events being attended so
as to draw attention to this beautiful part of the southwest. Also in 1994
the production of a top quality brochure, reprinted again in 1996 funded
by operators who advertised within it.
- Up to a few years ago the brochure
and display unit were the two main promotional tools of the BRVTA.
Other publications associated with Blackwood River
Valley Tourism Association include: - Blackwood
River Canoe
Guides from Trigwells Bridge to beyond Nannup. Blackwood
Valley Map (printed
by DOLA and CALM with Blackwood River Valley Tourism
Association input).
The ‘Accommodation
and food outlets guide’ financed by advertisers.
- 1998-Comprehensive Marketing
Strategy-prepared by Anne Chapple , and funded by SWDC.
- 1999-New Constitution
Written and adopted – name change to Blackwood
River Valley Marketing Association (marketing as opposed to tourism)—which represents
destination marketing in today’s modern tourism terminology.
- 2004-Trails Audit contributed
$500.00 to this worthwhile project-with Lottery West contributing $5000.00
- 2005-Inland
Loop to the Blackwood River Valley-Experience
Nature’s
Treasure. One of the most innovative and detailed brochures
produced within a southwest tourism sub region-based on an original idea
by Wally Hales, and compiled by many dedicated Blackwood
River Valley Marketing Association volunteers
- 2005-‘Welcome
to the Blackwood River Valley’ Brand WA road
signs installed on all major roads into the Valley, and funded with the
assistance of the four shires and TWA
- 2005- The initial creation of this web site www.blackwoodrivervalley.org.au
- 2005-Creation of A strategic 5 year marketing, planning, objectives so as to determine achievable ‘POSITIONING’ for ongoing sustainability of the BRVMA - formatted/presented by Ray Thomas Vice President Blackwood River Valley Marketing Association.
* * * * *
The above details represent just some of the main things undertaken by a small but determined group made up of towns/shires/tourist centre reps within the Blackwood River Valley over a period of some twenty years. Tourism has changed dramatically during the past five years, with inland country towns lacking the exposure given to fellow coastal townships, with their ever-increasing visitor/tourism demand factors- along with population expansion. - Ian Baxter (President Blackwood River Valley Marketing Association)
