The running joke this trip has been about the excess amount of technical gear I am traveling with. Today I unpacked all of it and set up to run the presentations for the Key Note Speakers and video them, as well as take photographs for the FACET website. I plugged in all my gear and blew a breaker, putting us without power to run the projector. It was an anxious hour before the start of the conference while the hotel tried to sort out the electrical failure and we were facing having no projector for all the key note speakers. With literally 2 minutes to start time, the electrician sorted the fault and I had to
scramble to load the PP's and get the conference started!
The FACET Conference Broome 2012, attracted over 70 delegates from across the Kimberley and other parts of the state. When Steve and Cyd were interviewed on ABC radio Kimberley from 80 mile beach the day before, it prompted others to register. The Tuesday night Welcome to Country by Yarru Jimmy Edgar set the conference off on a great foot as guests mingled with traditional owners, local rangers, tourism operators and industry professional, and others interested eco and cultural tourism. The venue was the Mercure Broome, and hotel conference manager Jessica Baker did a great job in meeting out every need. The delegates had ample time for making introductions and networking while enjoying cool beverages in the poolside courtyard, which features a giant Boab tree.
On the first day, conference conveyor Colin Ingram proved that he had everything well planned and the day ran smoothly. Ross Dowling, the wonderful MC, welcomed everyone and kept us tracking on time throughout the day. The speakers were very informative:
Jim Sharp, Deputy Director of Parks and Conservation, Department of Environment and Conservation, Government of Western Australia described the significant government financial and operational commitment to conserving cultural and natural values of the Kimberley, under the Kimberley Science and Conservation Strategy. Further details are available online at www.dec.wa.gov.au.
Stephanie Buckland, CEO of Tourism WA spoke on a range of development and marketing programs and activities, some specific to the Kimberley and others that contribute to feeding into tourism in the Kimberley.
Steve Martin, former Deputy Director of USA National Park Service spoke about landscape scale conservation through protected areas and joint-management arrangements with native Americans with relevant examples based on his experiences in the parks in Arizona and Alaska.
Dr. Cyd Martin, former Director of Native American Programs for the intermountain region USA shared her experiences working with native American tribes in Arizona, particularly the Navaho and Hobe bands. She expressed her admiration for the work currently being done within Western Australia for joint-management initiatives in protected areas. Her example of the tourism business operated by the Navaho people in Canyon De Chelley impressed the delegates and spurred conversation around how this model could be adopted in the Kimberley. The aspect most applicable was the control of visitor access through local indigenous custodians to much of the park and in particular to those significant and culturally sensitive sites.
Evan Hall, CEO of Tourism Council of Western Australia, which is an industry representative body spoke on destination development. He updated the delegates on the work that the TCWA is doing.
Sarah Yu, senior planner with Myamba Buru Yawuru, spoke about the Cultural Management plan for Yawuru country just completed. Fellow MBY staff Jimmy Edgar and Dean Matthews spoke about the proposed jetty to jetty trail which, when complete will interpret the significant aboriginal and non-aboriginal history of the Broome area and become a major tourist asset. Dean Matthews also provided information on these projects.
The first workshops were concurrent with Rod Quarterman and Jim Sargent facilitating one on Coastal and Marine Tourism Experience Development and Ross Dowling taking the delegates through Eco and Nature Based Tourism.
In the afternoon Colin Ingram and Evan Hall facilitated the workshop on destination development. The concurrent workshop on cultural tourism was brilliantly facilitated by Johnny Edmonds.
The key takeaway points from all the workshops will be available on the FACET website in due course as Wendy Dowling is undertaking the much appreciated task of transcribing the notes.
Throughout the morning, local radio station ABC Kimberley were broadcasting live from the venue, and morning show host George Manning conducted interviews with the key note speakers, and conference conveyor Colin Ingram and FACET founder Pat Barblett. The interviews can be heard by downloading them from ABC’s website. www.ABC.net.au/kimberley
It was a great day of information sharing and knowledge transfer. The workshops were lively and the information gathered will be transcribed and put on the FACET website.
By end of day our energy levels were running down. The Shire of Broome hosted a Civic Reception for the delegates which was very welcome and we met Broome's mayor.
