Peak WA tourism group Australia’s Golden Outback to hold AGM and sundowner in Narrogin

Tourism group Australia’s Golden Outback will hold its AGM in Narrogin for the first time later this month as part of an initiative to develop closer ties and understanding with the regions it represents. With the organisation focusing on developing agritourism throughout the Wheatbelt, AGO chairman Rod Quartermain is looking forward to meeting with district locals at a sundowner following the board meeting. “After our meetings we always have a sundowner of some sort so that we can speak with the community,” he said. “We want to get out and meet not only the local tourism industry but local government and local people — if the community doesn’t support local tourism then it won’t work and tourists won’t come.” The group, which covers the Gascoyne-Murchison, Goldfields, Wheatbelt and Esperance-Coast, decided to hold meetings in-region about two years ago. “It gives us the opportunity to talk to people directly involved in the tourism industry like cafe and accommodation owners,” Mr Quartermain said. “But there are a lot of other businesses in small towns, the butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker, that also benefit from tourism as people come through and spend money. “It’s very important that we talk and know what’s going on in the community and what people want.” Mr Quartermain said that a fascination with farming and life on the land is driving more domestic travellers to explore regional WA and the AGO Wheatbelt program seeks to capitalise on this by promoting agriculture, sustainability, innovation and technology. “It’s about the natural and built environment but also the people,” he said. “Tourism is a community builder — you might have a farm and three children and only one of them can run the farm, but if you have a tourism component then that can provide employment and maintain populations and families in regions, it has a social and economic impact.” The group is also exploring ways that travellers, in particular road-trippers, can be encouraged to spend more time at stops along the way. Driven by grey nomads and empty nesters, WA’s post-COVID caravan and camping market has grown by 17 per cent, and AGO is hoping to build on the growth by providing road trip itineraries highlighting the leisurely activities available in each region. Stakeholders and community members are invited by AGO to attend the networking sundowner following the AGM in Narrogin on October 31 at the John Higgins Community Centre, from 5.30-6.30pm. Anyone interested in attending is encouraged to get in touch with the group via admin@goldenoutback.com.