By Renee Wood
Healesville Sanctuary has received a Gold tourism award for its dedication to Aboriginal tourism experiences.
The Sanctuary received a Gold Award in the Category for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Tourism Experiences at the Victorian Tourism Industry Council’s annual awards on Thursday 1 December.
Healesville Sanctuary Director Ross Williamson said he was very pleased for the sanctuary to receive the acknowledgment.
“Murrundindi did the Welcome To Country ceremony for the whole event and accepted the award along with Donna and myself,” he said.
“It’s great recognition for what we have built here over the last 30 years, and will support the work we want to do in the future to recognise Wurundjeri Culture across the Sanctuary.”
The sanctuary prides itself in connecting visitors with Wurundjeri culture and this is done in many ways including teachings of indigenous plant usage, sharing local Dreaming Stories and sharing language as Murrundindi welcomes you onto Country at Healesville Sanctuary with a friendly Womenjika.
“The Sanctuary’s Events and Tourism Coordinator Donna Paterson put the submission together, outlining the many ways we connect our visitors to Wurundjeri Culture,” Mr Williamson said.
“I’d like to thank Donna for putting all the effort in to make the submission, but also everyone at Healesville Sanctuary who have worked to recognise the Wurundjeri First Nations people and bring Culture to all our visitors. But in particular I want to thank our dear friend Murrundindi, as he is at the heart of everything we do, and everything we have done.”
