Industry honours its tourism stars

FROM ship cleaner to ship captain, Amanda Sansom has cruised up the ladder at Gordon River Cruises and was one of two women honoured with the Tasmanian tourism industry’s highest individual honours.

Strahan local Ms Sansom, 33, took out the Tourism Minister’s Young Achiever award at the Tasmanian Tourism Conference.

She started with Gordon River Cruises 13 years ago as a cleaner, later moving to a tour guiding position.

She is now the team leader overseeing the operation and has dedicated herself to her dream of being captain, working towards becoming one of the youngest people in Australia to have a Master Five Licence. “I come from a boating family. All my family are cray fishermen, so I grew up on boats ,” Ms San so ms aid.

Tourism Industry Council Tasmania CEO Luke Martin acknowledged Ms Sansom’s commitment to pursuing her dreams. “She has steadfastly worked her way up from the ship cleaner to the ship captain – and in the process shown a way for other young Tasmanians wanting to pursue amazing career opportunities in tourism in regional Tasmania.”

East Coast tourism stalwart and hosted accommodation advocate Margaret Morgan was named the 2020 Tasmanian Tourism Champion.

Ms Morgan and her husband Alan moved to Tasmania from Victoria in 2002, building a contemporary high-end B& B overlooking Co les Bay.

Their property, Sheoaks on Freycinet, has won multiple Tasmanian Tourism Awards and entered the Tasmanian Tourism Hall of Fame.

Ms Morgan is a long-term board member and chair of Freycinet Coast Tourism and Foundation Board Member of the East Coast Regional Tourism Organisation.

Margaret and Alan recently sold Sheoaks to retire in Hobart. “Margaret has been a tireless and dedicated advocate for her beloved Freycinet, and the hundreds of B&B operators like her and Alan right across the state,” Mr Martin said.

“Margaret is also an example of someone who has selflessly rolled up her sleeves and contributed to her destination and the industry well beyond her and Alan’s personal business interests. Volunteering her time, running the committees, driving to meetings across her region and the state, making sure her colleagues have a voice.”

I COME FROM A BOATING FAMILY. ALL MY FAMILY ARE CRAY FISHERMEN, SO I GREW UP ON BOATS TOURISM AWARD WINNER AMANDA SANSOM