13th June 2007
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The Latest News - Important Upcoming Events - Excellent Marketing Opportunities - Behind the Scenes - On The Move - Other Industry News - Seen in the Media - Good News Stories |
FROM THE CEO'S DESK
Congratulations to the Tropical North Queensland tourism industry for such an impressive presence at ATE with over 100 operators occupying more than 60 stands. No other region can match our commitment. ATE is all about maximizing the international prospects for Tropical North Queensland, and I’m certain we will generate extremely positive results from such active participation. As well as following up key contacts in our established and emerging international markets, ATE was an ideal opportunity to promote the new Change Your Latitude destination branding. We also welcomed some 60 pax here for pre & post ATE famils and congratulations to the TTNQ team and to all the members involved as your support is greatly appreciated. We’ve received great feedback from agents already.
It was wonderful to see our destination’s most important iconic natural attraction, the Great Barrier Reef, receive a prestigious international tourism award for Best Destination in the World Travel and Tourism Council’s Tourism for Tomorrow Awards. This is well deserved recognition of the serious efforts being made by the tourism industry, particularly reef operators, governments, management groups such as the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and other organisations, to address environmental issues and commit to the protection of the Great Barrier Reef as operators continue to strive toward more sustainable tourism initiatives.
Last week we welcomed the Tourism Queensland Board to Tropical North Queensland for their regular meeting and I took the opportunity to present our 07/08 Business Plan, provide them with an activity update and discuss regional issues. I thank TQ for their strong partnership and look forward to working with them closely in the coming year as we address the challenges and opportunities ahead.
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Rob Giason Chief Executive Officer |
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THE LATEST NEWS
IVS MIXED BAG FOR TNQ
The International Visitors Survey for Year Ending March 2007 released this week shows Tropical North Queensland had a slight reduction of 2% in the total number of international visitors coming here. The decline in Japanese visitor numbers has continued in this period with a 15% drop but Tropical North Queensland still attracted the highest number of Japanese holiday visitors at 202,500, outperforming Sydney, Melbourne and the Gold Coast. The United States and Canada continue to grow up 12% & 23% respectively, while the United Kingdom grew by 2%. Germany dropped by 4% while France and Italy grew by 15% & 10% respectively. Korea showed strong growth of 27%. Total visitors nights increased by 6% to 6,826,232 nights and the Average Length of Stay increased to 8 nights from 7.5 nights. Holiday Visitor Nights grew by 12% to 5,494,926 nights with an ALOS of 7 nights up from 6.2 nights for the previous year. There was also good news on Expenditure in the region with an increase of $21 million to give a total of $881 million for the year ending March 07, up from $860million for the previous year.
MORE JETSTAR DOMESTIC SERVICES
TTNQ welcomes the announcement from Jetstar that the airline will increase its direct service from Adelaide to Cairns from three to five times a week from 28 July until 29 October, covering the traditional peak tourism season for Tropical North Queensland. This will be followed by a period of four services a week until 28 March 2008. Jetstar have also announced an additional daily direct service from Sydney and three extra direct services each week from Melbourne to operate from 1 June - 20 September.
MEMBERS TURN OUT FOR TTNQ NETWORKING FUNCTION
Around 200 TTNQ members attended the May networking function at the Cairns International Airport. This was yet another show of strength for our industry and TTNQ received plenty of positive feedback particularly regarding the opportunity provided by Cairns Port Authority to hear about the exciting new developments underway and the forward planning at the airport which will ensure a great first impression of our destination for visitors arriving there. Thanks to CPA for generously hosting the evening and for their ongoing support of TTNQ and the Tropical North Queensland tourism industry. Click here for Networking Function photos.
TROPICAL AMBASSADORS PROGRAM STARTS SOON
As part of the Cairns International Airport redevelopment TTNQ is pleased to be working with Cairns Port Authority on the Tropical Ambassadors program which will see arriving visitors welcomed by friendly faces and given helpful information. Genevieve Tardy has been appointed as the program supervisor and volunteers will be recruited soon to provide this free service.
NA MISSION ACCOMPLISHED
Thirteen TNQ operators participated in the recent TTNQ North America Mission, which visited various cities in USA & Canada, promoting the new Change Your Latitude branding to some 370 wholesalers including Product Managers, Reservations Staff & Retail Travel Agents and building up a database of over qualified 1000 contacts. TTNQ has received excellent feedback from the trade representatives who attended events and the floor at ATE was buzzing with requests from other western markets keen to see us bring them a similar mission after hearing so many positive comments from their American counterparts. Most of the events were a sell out, and although numbers were low in a few locations, the quality of attendees more than compensated for this. Click here to see photos from the Mission.
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BACKPACKER AGENTS ENJOY TNQ
TTNQ hosted a five day Cairns Backpacker Famil which brought 26 agents here from Perth, Darwin, Brisbane, Sydney & Melbourne to experience the reef, white water rafting, overnight in Mission Beach, skydiving, bungy jumping & Cape Tribulation. Thanks to all the TNQ operators who participated who made the event a great success. The excellent feedback received from participants included these comments:
“I had a wonderful time in Cairns and I really appreciate all the work that went into arranging the week! I must say I love Cairns!!”
“Once again, cheers for absolutely everything! Was a fantastic famil, much more confident about my knowledge of the region now- should be able to sell heaps!”
“We all had the time of our lives. TNQ is a truly magic destination and an experience we will never forget. Thank you.”
DIVE CAMPAIGN A BIG HIT
TTNQ, Dive Queensland, local dive companies and several other Tropical North Queensland tourism operators, TQ USA, GBRMPA and Aquanaut Australia are participating in a major dive tourism promotion launched during April in the USA and run in conjunction with leading US dive equipment company, Aqualung. Titled Dive the Wonder Down Under the campaign features in-store promotion, a brochure and web-based competition. There's already been a great hit count on the website and the first prizewinners have been drawn. We look forward to welcoming them and many other North American dive enthusiasts here in the near future as a result. Some of those involved got together at Tusa Dive recently.
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EMERGING MARKET ACTIVITY
TTNQ with industry partners TQ, CPA and airlines Cathay Pacific, Qantas and Korean Air and various wholesaler partners have various campaigns in market which are are contributing to the increase of awareness for the region in China (Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong & Guangzhou) India, Singapore and Korea. Activities include newspaper and magazine advertising, tram wraps, online presence, media conferences, online activity along with POS material (brochures/posters) being displayed in the wholesale partners retail branches across the various countries. Feedback and results to date for Southern China/Hong Kong and Singapore show increased passenger bookings on the same time last year.
TTNQ’S TIE WITH SEA FM/HOT FM NOW OFFICIAL
The relationship between TTNQ and Sea FM and Hot FM (who come under the banner of Macquarie Regional RadioWorks) has been made official through a corporate agreement, recently signed by Rob Giason & Sea FM/Hot FM GM Steve Hirst. The agreement acknowledges the importance of tourism to the region and the key role the media play in its success. The agreement also provides a benefit to TTNQ members with a radio advertising offer for both current and new members to help maximize tourism exposure in this region.
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EVENT ORGANISERS EXPERIENCE TNQ’s BUSINESS TOURISM PRODUCT
Twelve Tropical North Queensland business tourism operators took the opportunity to present their product to representatives of major conference and industry events company ICMS Australia last week. ICMSA was here for their own national conference at the Cairns Convention Centre, after bringing several other major conferences to Tropical North Queensland in the past, and with more coming in the future. CRCB’s Angela Uhlig, Kyla McIntosh and Karen Shaw welcomed ICMSA Managing Director Bryan Holliday back for his first visit since the opening of the Cairns Convention Centre 10 years ago. The nineteen ICMSA representatives also enjoyed touring and site inspections during their 4-day visit.
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AUSTRALIAN EVENTS EXPO
CRCB exhibited alongside Cairns Convention Centre in Australian Events Expo, Sydney’s inaugural national events exhibition, held in the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre over two days. The Expo attracted a large number of event and incentive buyers, with cooking displays, a pamper zone, and a seminar program. It was a great opportunity to promote Tropical North Queensland to the Sydney events industry with a new-look stand and hot-off-the-press Meeting & Incentive Planner’s Guide.
PARKER TRAVEL SUPPORTS BTA SALES
After undergoing a rigorous selection process, TTNQ are please to announce that Parker Travel Collection has been selected to support the sale of Book Tropical Australia (BTA). TTNQ CEO Rob Giason said Parker Travel Collection had done a terrific job in their work on the Great Tropical Drive project and has all the prerequisites TTNQ was seeking to promote our new online booking project BTA.
GREAT TROPICAL DRIVE HISTORICAL JOURNEY
The Great Tropical Drive has published a booklet titled Great Tropical Drive, An Historic Journey. The booklet features a fascinating collection of photographs that provide a pictorial record of the days gone by in the area covered by the Great Tropical Drive.
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TABLELANDS SIGNAGE LAUNCHED
Now officially completed and launched is the small towns signage project funded by the Australian Government through its Sustainable Regions Program, Tropical Tablelands Tourism (TTT), the Herberton Shire Council, PROBE and the Great Tropical Drive. This innovative signage project will help visitors to the Atherton Tablelands find their way more easily along its scenic country roads to explore the many waterfalls, lakes, national parks, boutique bed and breakfasts, country pubs and motels on offer.
VIC TEAM DISCOVERS COOKTOWN
Volunteers & staff from the Gateway Discovery Visitor Information Centre participated in a 2 day Cooktown extravaganza famil. Thanks to all operators and in particular Judy Bennett of Guurrbi Tours, for making this famil so enjoyable and a great learning experience.
“After our early morning Skytrans Flight from Cairns to Cooktown we were treated to a great breakfast at Cooks Landing Café, then onto a fantastic tour of Cooktown with Cooktown Tours, followed by a Catch a Crab river adventure. After a BBQ lunch at Pams Place, Bart’s Bush Adventures took us through the Wetlands of Keating’s Lagoon and on to Mungumby Lodge for a sumptuous home cooked dinner, finally exhausted we welcomed the comfort of our overnight stay at the Sovereign Resort. Next morning we were up early for Guurrbi Tours Rainbow Serpent Tour, which was sensational and thanks to Willie Gordon for his passion and enthusiasm. Then off to Natures Powerhouse & Visitor Information Centre for lunch and a browse and some free time to explore more of Cooktown before our Skytrans flight home. If you have not yet been to Cooktown we thoroughly recommend that you take the time to explore the wonderful sights and activities they have to offer.”
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IMPORTANT UPCOMING EVENTS
CRCB PLANNERS’ GUIDE LAUNCH
10:00 – 11:30am Thursday 14 June 2007, Cairns Convention Centre
Members who have advertised in the new Meeting & Incentive Planners’ Guide are invited to attend the much anticipated Launch. Officiating at this major event for the business events industry in TNQ will be Mayor of Cairns Kevin Byrne. Please RSVP to karen.shaw@tnq.org.au
TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND TOURISM AWARDS LAUNCH
4:30pm Friday 15 June 2007, Shangri-La Hotel, The Marina, Cairns
TTNQ members are invited to attend the launch of the 2007 Tropical North Queensland Tourism Awards. Following the feedback received from members through the post event review last year, the awards process has been simplified and made more streamlined. Come along to the launch and discover how site inspections will be conducted. In the tourism awards style of industry celebration, join us for a drink on Friday 15 June from 4:30pm. Please RSVP to vanessa.allen@tnq.org.au.
TTNQ BUSINESS PLAN PRESENTATION
8:30am – 12:30pm Tuesday 19 June 2007, Rydges Esplanade Resort
TTNQ members are invited to attend this presentation by the TTNQ team on the 2007-08 Business Plan which will highlight opportunities available in both domestic and international markets. Come along to hear about the key planned activities in our core and emerging markets including the proposed TQ/TTNQ domestic cooperative advertising campaigns. Click here for your invitation.
ATEC HOW TO WORKSHOP
9:30am – 3:30pm Wednesday 20 June 2007, Sofitel Reef Casino Hotel
This workshop is specifically designed for beginners, new starters and entry to middle level people in the Tourism Industry. It is open to both ATEC Members and non-Members as well as Tourism & Hospitality students. Click here for Fax Back Invitation. For more information contact Cheryl Kelly, ATEC NQ Branch Manager Ph: 4053 2338 Email: cheryl.kelly@atec.net.au
SKAL CAIRNS TRAVEL & TOURISM 6th ANNUAL RACE DAY
12:30pm Saturday 30 June 2007, Cannon Park
Click here for more information & RSVP details – closing this Friday 15 June
LAURA DANCE FESTIVAL
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22-24 June 2007
This colourful celebration brings together various communities from across Cape York for a weekend of indigenous dance, music and culture. A new website managed by the Quinkan Regional Cultural Centre has been launched for the event with online bookability available via Book Tropical Australia. The first online booking for the Festival was received just a few hours after the functionality was installed on the website. Visit www.laurafestival.tv
FESTIVAL CAIRNS
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25 August – 15 September 2007 for more information visit www.festivalcairns.com.au
WOMEN IN EXPORT TRADE DAY
Women in Export Trade Day, Sheraton Mirage Port Douglas from 10:30am 24 June. This is the lead-in event for the 12th APEC Women Leaders' Network (WLN) Meeting being hosted by the Hon Julie Bishop MP, Minister for Education, Science and Training and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women's Issues, at Port Douglas from 25-27 June.Register online via www.austrade.gov.au/WLNTradeDay
CYCLONE SCIENCE SEMINAR
27 – 28 September 2007
Australian Tropical Forest Institute, Cairns
This seminar focuses on the impacts of cyclones on terrestrial tropical ecosystems, incorporating insights from Cyclone Larry and Cyclone Monica.
To register click here. For more information click here or contact: patricia.oreilly@jcu.edu.au or phone 4042 1246.
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EXCELLENT MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES
PRODUCT PRESENTATION OPPORTUNITIES
There is availability for the half hour Wednesday evening product presentations to Gateway Discovery Visitor Information Centre volunteers and staff on the following dates:
4 & 25 July
1, 8, 22 & 25 August
5, 12, & 26 September
3, 10, 24 & 31October
7, 14 & 28 November
Please contact: henny.goldsmith@tnq.org.au or call 4015 1224 to reserve your place. Be quick as they fill up fast!
QUEENSLAND ON TOUR - KOREA
Tourism Queensland invites you to join "Queensland on Tour - Korea 2007" 4-7 September. This Sales Mission provides an exciting combination of sales activities for established operators to further develop their relationships with the industry and to introduce new products into the Korean market. Covering both Seoul and Busan, the event will provide Queensland industry with exposure to approx 80 agents and 20 product planners. For a copy of the prospectus and application form, please contact anny.um@tq.com.au"
PASSPORT TO CAIRNS EDITORIAL OPPORTUNITIES
Passport to Cairns are keen to hear from TTNQ members who would like to provide a famil to one of their journalists with a view to publication of editorial on their product. Operators would also need to provide a high resolution image. Contact manninga@tcp.newsltd.com.au or phone 4052 6612.
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BEHIND THE SCENES
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The TTNQ Board held its May meeting on the Tablelands and took the opportunity to meet with Tablelands tourism operators during a morning tea networking function.
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TTNQ organized and hosted a range of pre & post ATE famils.
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Kyla participated in the Cairns Convention Centre Tradeshow which visited Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra and Brisbane. A total of fifteen industry partners were involved.
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Jana attended a dinner with 28 agents here for a Cathay Pacific famil.
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Representatives of luxury holiday travel group Abercrombie & Kent enjoyed a cruise aboard Marcrista in Port Douglas.
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Liz participated in the Sunlover Stars famil which brought 100 top performing Australian and NZ agents here for events in Port Douglas and on Dunk Island as well as a Quicksilver Reef cruise.
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She also hosted a dinner for 15 Future Team Leaders form Flight Centre Sydney.
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Liz is also well underway with preparations for next month’s Domestic Roadshow. If you would like more information or to participate contact elizabeth.webb@tnq.org.au
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Harry & Lisa are continuing with preparations for the TTNQ Japan Mission and working with Jetstar and agents to promote the destination ahead of the first Jetstar flights from Western Japan into Cairns.
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Melinda and Michelle from the TTNQ Research team held an IPAT meeting in Port Douglas where the program is progressing well. They are also busy preparing for the commencement of the Destination Visitor Profiling in late July.
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John McIntyre and Angela Uhlig attended the launch of the Mamu Canopy Walk.
TTNQ APPLAUDS ACHIEVEMENTS Congratulations to:
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ON THE MOVE
• Shangri-La Hotel The Marina Cairns has appointed Troy Dowd as business development manager of MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Events) in Sydney to cover the Sydney and Canberra markets and Leisa Andersen the on-site based Business Development Manager of MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Events) will cover the Melbourne and Brisbane markets, as well as all international MICE accounts.
• The new sales & marketing director at Paradise Palms Country Club is Niki Sowden.
• Regina White has been appointed Sales & Marketing Manager at Sea Temple Resorts and Spa at Palm Cove and Port Douglas.
• Following the successful sale of Fitzroy Island Resort, the Directors of the Raging Thunder Group, Denis Cole and Fred Ariel, have decided to take a well earned step back from the day to day running of the business and have appointed Donna Graham as Group General Manager and Bastien Iezzi as an Operations Manager.
• Raymond D. Blanco is Tjapukai’s new Performance and Choreography Manager
• There are several new appointments at Rydges Sabaya Resort ahead of the redeveloped Balinese themed 192 room property’s opening date of 27 June. Leanne Edwards joins the team as Sales Manager along with Front Office Manager, Colin McIntosh, Reservations Manager, Heather Silvestri, Maintenance Manager, Shjohn L’Estrange, Executive Housekeeper Debra Botting and Financial Controller Tony McInnes. Executive Chef in the resort’s Sakinah House Restaurant is Scott MacDougal, and Food and Beverage Manager is Penny Ross.
• Shaun Steele of Mantra Trilogy Cairns will take up the position of GM at Mantra Port Douglas.
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OTHER INDUSTRY NEWS
SAILAWAY SAILS IN
The new reef vessel Sailaway IV is due to hit Port Douglas this week as its five month, 23,000 km journey from France comes to a close. Sailaway IV created plenty of interest throughout its epic sail, taking the new Tropical North Queensland Change Your Latitude branding to international ports across the globe.
DFS INVITES TTNQ MEMBERS TO SAVE
DFS Galleria Cairns invites TTNQ members to enjoy savings on popular brands at its Mid-Year Clearance starting from June. You don’t have to be travelling to enjoy the savings on selected items and brands – they are available for retail purchases too. Qantas Frequent Flyer members may also earn Double Points for every purchase made during June and July at DFS.
BUILDING ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN SMALL BUSINESS (BESB)
The Minister for Small Business and Tourism, Fran Bailey, has called for applications under round three of BESB. Applications close 2 July 2007. For further information contact the AusIndustry Hotline on 13 28 46 or visit hotline@ausindustry.gov.au
ROSE GUMS DEVELOPMENT UNVEILED
Rose Gums Wilderness Retreat has unveiled the third and final phase of its recent development, with four new tree houses now complete. The Hon Ian MacDonald, Senator for Queensland, will represent the Federal Minister for Tourism Fran Bailey at the official opening on 21 July.
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SEEN IN THE MEDIA
• Great Outdoors – Jennifer Hawkins visited Jungle surfing Canopy tours
• Channel Nine's Getaway televised a one-hour Saturday afternoon special recently which included Port Douglas and the Atherton Tablelands.
• Mac Air Inflight Magazine included an article on the Tropical Food Experience. Page 1 & Page 2
• Business quarterly YL published a story titled Dodging Pythons in the Daintree
• Business tourism publication Quorum included articles on Cairns, Angsana Resort & Spa Palm Cove and Sheraton Mirage Port Douglas in their latest edition.
• The Sunday Telegraph featured a story on Daintree & Cape Tribulation in their Escape section. Page 1 & Page 2
• Wrotham Park was included in articles on outback station holidays published in both the SMH & The Age recently.
• This article Close Encounters of the Reef Kind was the result of a famil on Reef Encounter.
• Undersea Explorer and the Great Barrier Reef feature in the July edition of Australian Traveller
• Another Hollywood movie is to be shot in Tropical North Queensland. This time it’s family oriented feature film Nim’s Island starring Jodie Foster and Abigail Breslin.
• Fur n Feathers were included in a Wall Street Journal Asia article on Tree House accommodation.
• Thala Beach Lodge was congratulated on the quality of the eco-tourism experience their property offers visitors in this Click Press web news item.
• Cape York received coverage recently in The Courier Mail, while the Sun Herald featured The Cape York Turtle Rescue.
• Tropical North Queensland and members including Orpheus Island Resort, Executive Retreats and Mango Lagoon featured in Weekends for Two Magazine.
• Selling Down Under included a 2-page spread on Tropical North Queensland - Change your Latitude in their April/May edition. Page 1 & Page 2
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GOOD NEWS STORIES
Wedding guests had an enjoyable stay with things made easy for them thanks to the hospitality of Helen and John Donovan of The Summit Rainforest Retreat, including the competent babysitter they organized.
Dear Helen,
We had a lovely weekend thank you. The Summit was really lovely- such a magnificent place!! Ruth was just great. Little Zac came out in a rash on the morning of the wedding which resulted in a trip to Atherton Hospital Outpatients and we thought Darcy and Katrina may have to miss the wedding reception to be at home with him but Ruth looked after him so well and did not disturb Darcy and Katrina at Eden House. Thank you so much for finding her for us.
Only thing we couldn't find and it was probably in a very obvious place, was a local phone book. Otherwise everything was just perfect. Thank you very much once again.
Best Wishes,
Robyn
More Good News this time from Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures who took in two cassowary chicks after Cyclone Larry struck in March last year. With the devastation of the rainforest in the Mission Beach area, it was necessary for QPWS Rangers to relocate chicks and sub-adults from their natural habitat to allow the remaining adult birds to have the best possible chance of survival, with the help of feeding stations set up to supplement their damaged food supply. Now after 12 months of intensive care at Hartley’s the healthy chicks named ‘Larry’ and ‘Monica’ have been returned to the wild by Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service Rangers this week. ‘Monica’ was fitted with a GPS tracking device. Both birds were micro-chipped, feather and blood samples were taken from them for DNA analysis and their progress will be monitored for at least the next 12 – 18 months.
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If you have a good news story or have achieved a recent success please send your information to Helen Laird.
Brought to you by Pacifc Toyota Cairns and AVIS Australia - Corporate Vehicle Sponsors for TTNQ
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While every effort is made to ensure the information in this newsletter is accurate, Tourism Tropical North Queensland disclaims all responsibility and liability (including without limitation, liability in negligence) for all expenses, losses, damages and costs incurred as a result of the information being inaccurate or incomplete in anyway, and for any reason.