Three leading tourism businesses have been inducted into the State’s Tourism Hall of Fame at the 2005 South Australian Tourism Awards.

Adelaide Shores Caravan Resort, Adelaide Central YHA and Quality Houseboats all received the prestigious inductions at the Adelaide Convention Centre on Friday 11 November after winning awards for the third year in a row.

More than 650 people from the tourism industry attended the black tie event involving a gala dinner and theatre-style presentation.

For the first time, two people shared in the prestigious Harry Dowling Award for excellence in regional tourism, both winners from Clare Valley. They were Brother John May from Sevenhill Cellars and David Hay from Thorn Park Country House.

Barbara Derham, whose name is synonymous with tourism on the Eyre Peninsula, received the award for Outstanding Contribution by an Individual for her work in the accommodation sector and tireless promotion of Whyalla as a tourism destination.

Further awards were presented in another 30 categories to a range of tourism businesses and individuals.

Tourism Minister Jane Lomax-Smith says the awards recognise excellence in one of South Australia’s most important industries.

“Our tourism achievers are people in businesses from the Flinders Ranges and Outback to the far south east of the Limestone Coast. Their skills add to the enjoyment and memories of the millions of visitors who discover South Australia and their skills help build the economy and create jobs.

“Tourism is big business in South Australia. It is a major economic generator for the state; with Tourism Research Australia estimating that tourism expenditure in South Australia was $4 billion in 2004.”

The Minister says the awards are judged in accordance with a strict set of rules and criteria, with winners setting benchmarks for the whole industry to aspire to.

“The awards are a very important night on the tourism calendar, providing an opportunity to raise the confidence and quality of the industry, while at the same time celebrating the sheer hard work and dedication of many individuals,” she says.

Major category winners will go on to represent the State at the Australian Tourism Awards, which will be held on the Gold Coast in February 2006.

2005 South Australian Tourism Awards

Sustainable Tourism
Birds Australia Gluepot Reserve Ph. (08) 8332 1204

Category 1 – Major Tourist Attraction
Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary Ph. (08) 8648 4848

Category 2 – Significant Tourist Attraction
Monarto Zoological Park Ph. (08) 8534 4100

Award of Distinction: Naracoorte Caves National Park Ph. (08) 8762 2340

Category 3 – Major Festivals & Events
Clipsal 500 Adelaide Ph. (08) 8212 8500

Category 4 – Significant Festivals and Events
WOMADelaide Ph. (08) 8271 1488
Highly Commended: Goowla Great Air Spectacular Ph. (08) 8555 2954

Category 5 – Ecotourism
Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary Tours Ph. (08) 8648 4848

Category 6 – Heritage and Cultural Tourism
Victor Harbor Horse Drawn Tram Ph. (08) 8551 0523

Category 7 – Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Tourism
Iga Warta Ph. (08) 8648 3737

Category 8 – General Tourism Services
Getaways Reservation Service Ph. (08) 8563 1000

Category 9 – Meetings & Business Tourism
Level 1 @ Hilton Adelaide Ph. (08) 8217 2000

Category 10 – Tourism Retailing
Russet Ridge Cellar Door Ph. (08) 8762 0114

Category 11 – Major Tour & Transport Operator
Kangaroo Island SeaLink Ph. 13 13 01

Category 12 – Significant Tour & Transport Operator
Spirit Australia Cruises Ph. (08) 8555 2203

Award of Distinction: Victor Harbor Horse Drawn Tram Ph. (08) 8551 0523

Category 13 – Adventure Tourism
Temptation Sailing Ph. 0412 811 838
Highly Commended: Adventure Tours Australia Ph. (08) 8309 2299

Category 14 – Destination Promotion
Murraylands Tourism Marketing Ph. (08) 8539 1141

Category 15 – Tourism Product Marketing
The Great Australian Outback Cattle Drive Ph. (08) 8463 4500

Category 16 – Media
Postcards Ph. (08) 8267 0120

Category 17 – Tourism Education & Training
Not awarded

Category 18 – Tourism Restaurants & Catering Services
Red Ochre Ph. (08) 8211 8555

Highly Commended: Spotless Ph. (08) 8354 8222

Category 19 – Tourism Wineries
Peter Lehmann Wines Ph. (08) 8563 2100

Awards of Distinction: Banrock Station Wine & Wetland Centre Ph. (08) 8583 0299
Jacob’s Creek Visitor Centre Ph. (08) 8521 3000

Category 20 – Tourist & Caravan Parks
Adelaide Shores Caravan Resort Ph. (08) 8355 7320
* Hall of Fame

Award of Distinction: Robe Long Beach Holiday Park Ph. (08) 8768 2237

Category 21 – Backpacker Accommodation
Adelaide Central YHA Ph. (08) 8414 3000
* Hall of Fame

Category 22 – Hosted Accommodation
Seppeltsfield Vineyard Cottage Ph. (08) 8563 4059

Category 22A – SA B&Bs (Traditional Hosted)
Bellevue Bed & Breakfast Ph. (08) 8323 7929

Category 22B – SA B&Bs (Self-Contained)
Cladich Pavilions Ph. (08) 8339 8248

Category 23 – Unique Accommodation
Quality Houseboats Ph. (08) 8331 9248
* Hall of Fame

Category 24 – Standard Accommodation
Woodhouse Activity Centre Ph. (08) 8339 3333

Category 25 – Deluxe Accommodation
Adelaide Shores Holiday Village Ph. (08) 8355 7360

Award of Distinction: Stamford Grand Adelaide Ph. (08) 8376 1222

Category 26 – Luxury Accommodation
Radisson Playford Hotel & Suites Ph. (08) 8213 8802

Category 27 – New Tourism Development
Chapel Hill Winery Gourmet Retreat Ph. (08) 8323 9182
Award of Distinction: Skycity Adelaide Ph. (08) 8212 2811

Category 28 – Outstanding Contribution by an Individual
Barbara Derham Ph. (08) 8645 8877
Barbara Derham’s name has been synonymous with tourism for some 37 years, as she has been promoting Whyalla as a tourism destination since 1968.

Over the years, Barbara has been a successful property owner and operator of the Alexander Motor Inn, Barbara’s Gourmet House and Derham’s Foreshore Motor Inn.

In 1989, Barbara was the first woman elected to the FLAG International Board in 28 years, and went on to be the first female Chair for a period of five years, controlling a huge budget with offices all over the world.

Barbara was also the first female board member of the Hotel Motel Accommodation (Australia) and then went on to be the first woman president of the Hotel Motel Association of SA.

As an acclaimed businesswoman, Barbara was appointed to the Minister’s Tourism Round Table and is currently in her sixth year as Chair of Flinders Region Area Consultative Committee.

Harry Dowling Award – joint winners
Brother John May Ph. (08) 8843 4222
In 1963 Brother John May was sent to Sevenhill Cellars by the Jesuit order and became an assistant winemaker. Then as the winery’s winemaker in 1972, he undertook formal training and was responsible for introducing many changes to the winery and its production.

As early as the 1970s, Br May saw a future for wine tourism in the Clare Valley and was instrumental in the inception of the Clare Valley Tourist Association in 1975, dedicating his time promoting Clare Valley and its produce.
After some 40 years at Sevenhill, he is seen as something of an ‘icon’ in the region and is highly regarded among his peers and the community.

David Hay Ph. (08) 8443 4304
David Hay has been involved with the tourism industry since purchasing Thorn Park Country House in the Clare Valley in 1985. He holds the belief that one must contribute to the community that one lives in.

David has held positions on both local and regional tourism associations and has been instrumental in a number of major projects and initiatives of the Clare Valley Tourist Association.

David always looks at the bigger picture and understands that we all need to work together to make the region and state stronger. He happily mentors new players in the industry and often provides advice in the setting up of similar tourism ventures such as Thorn Park.