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ANZAC DAY 2020: WE WILL REMEMBER THEM
NSW residents will be able to commemorate ANZAC Day from home this year with a broadcast of special services to honour our veterans and serving Defence personnel.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said with traditional marches and local memorial services cancelled this year, ANZAC Day has a renewed meaning.
“As our community works together to stop the spread of COVID-19, we draw inspiration from the brave heroes we commemorate on this day,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“One hundred and five years after they set foot on the Gallipoli shore, the ANZACs speak to us more resoundingly than ever. The legend forged more than a century ago guides us in this moment. It inspires us to dig in and look out for others, no matter the obstacles.
“The best way to honour our ANZACs is to echo them, and we will, for the ANZAC spirit lives in each of us. We will remember them.”
The day will begin with a 5:30am commemorative service broadcast from the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, followed by a NSW service at 10am.
The Premier, Governor Margaret Beazley, RSL NSW Acting President Ray James, a bugler and a vocalist will take part in the 30 minute service from the ANZAC Memorial in Hyde Park and the Cenotaph in Martin Place.
The NSW service will be broadcast live on ABC TV and streamed on the ANZAC Memorial and RSL Facebook pages. The service will not be open to the public and the community is urged to continue following the latest health advice by commemorating at home.
The NSW Government is encouraging people to share videos reciting The Ode and post photos on social media using the tags #ANZACspirit and #AnzacAtHome
TOURISM BUSINESSES TAKE NEW APPROACH IN NSW
Housebound wannabe travellers are enjoying many of NSW’s tourism experiences and attractions through virtual tours, online activities and deliveries of local NSW products. These initiatives show how tourism businesses are adapting to the current situation and keeping future travellers engaged by providing the goods to brighten any home, pantry, cellar or social media feed. Here are a few examples of NSW tourism operators showing this kind of innovation:
Sand Dune Adventures: The much-loved quad-bike tours across Worimi Sand Dunes, Stockton, may be on hold at the moment but the Sand Dune Adventures staff have found another way to connect with the local community, with all its employees working with Worimi Local Aboriginal Land Council to produce Aboriginal print, washable face masks. Order online.
KISS Arts Festival: This weekend, Kiama will be opening its stage doors to the world as its popular annual seaside arts festival goes virtual. The schedule includes Virtual KISS2020 Kabaret, Kids Komedy, a Family Game Show and even a lantern parade. See the full schedule at the KISS Arts Festival website.
Tall Ship James Craig: Take a virtual stroll around Barque James Craig thanks to Aerial Digital Technologies who have created an amazing 3D capture of the vessel. Barque James Craig is Sydney’s only 19th Century square rigger, and her restoration to full sailing condition was recognised with the prestigious World Ship Trust Maritime Medal in 2003. The restoration cost almost $A30 million and took nearly 40 years to complete after she was rescued from Recherche Bay in far southern Tasmania. The Tall Ship is berthed at Wharf 7 in Pyrmont, adjacent to the Australian National Maritime Museum.
Destination NSW features innovative businesses and attractions like these in each edition of Insights with the aim of inspiring other tourism operators to develop new and different ways to promote their products and experiences to audiences worldwide.
If your business has a virtual tour or online experience you’d like to share with the thousands of Insights readers please email product@dnsw.com.au.
Alternatively, if you know of other experiences not promoted here, please join the movement and share them on social media using the hashtag #LoveNSW.
Please follow VisitNSW (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter) and Sydney (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter) for holiday inspiration and a showcase of NSW’s best attractions and experiences.
REGIONAL TOURISM BUSHFIRE RECOVERY GRANT TIMELINE EXTENDED
The Federal Government’s Regional Tourism Bushfire Recovery grants program has been amended as a result of COVID-19 with the application periods and program end date being extended.
Austrade and the National Bushfire Recovery Agency announced the amendments to the $10 million grants program this week as a result of current restrictions on indoor and outdoor gatherings.
The program has two funding streams which, together, will support events, concerts, festivals and visitor attractions in fire-affected regions to assist with recovery efforts and encourage international and domestic visitors to come back to the regions.
Stream 1 supports smaller-scale events, concerts, festivals and other visitor attractions such as art installations and tourist walks. Grants are available up to $30,000 per applicant and applications will be assessed as they are received, with applications now closing on 18 December 2020. Applications for Stream 2, which is for larger events and activities, close on 8 May 2020. All successful events must be delivered by 28 February 2022.
The program is part of the Government’s $76 million tourism recovery package to protect jobs, small businesses and local economies by helping get visitors travelling into bushfire-affected regions.
For more information, visit Austrade.gov.au
NSW TRANSPORT AND ROADS PROJECTS KEEPING 130,000 PEOPLE IN JOBS
Critical construction and maintenance work across NSW roads and transport networks is being ramped up to keep people in jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to protect the livelihoods of more than 130,000 people directly and indirectly employed by Transport for NSW.
Transport and Roads Minister Andrew Constance said transport infrastructure projects will also be key to rebuilding the State’s economy after the pandemic.
“The NSW Government is pushing ahead with delivering $57.5 billion worth of transport infrastructure across the next four years, so it’s essential to keep moving during a time like this,” Mr Constance said.
“Continuing work on critical transport infrastructure is great news for industry as thousands of jobs will be sustained in the coming months. This work will also provide significant economic benefits to suppliers, manufacturers and supporting sectors.”
Transport is also playing a vital role in providing services for essential travel and keeping the supply chain moving as NSW navigates the evolving COVID-19 situation.
Mr Constance said the freight network had been incredibly busy in the past few weeks, delivering supplies and materials to hundreds of locations.
“People are relying on us to keep road and rail routes open so we can get food to supermarkets and important medical supplies to hospitals and medical centres across the state,” Mr Constance said.
UPDATES FOR CARAVAN AND RV OWNERS, INDUSTRY
Caravan and Camping Industry Association NSW (CCIANSW) has sought clarification from NSW Health authorities regarding travel for the purpose of pick-up and repair of recreational vehicles. CCIANSW has been advised that under current health orders, people are permitted to travel to dealers/repairers to collect or service their recreational vehicle as it is a “reasonable excuse”.
NSW Health recommends that people consider health and wellbeing at all times, and whether such activities are able to be delayed until being out and about is considered safer.
Further, to help NSW caravan parks and camping grounds confirm whether people entering their businesses have just cause to do so, CCIANSW has developed a Guest Declaration template for park managers and staff to use. Operators can access the Guest Declaration here.
$14M FUNDING INJECTION FOR SYDNEY HARBOUR FEDERATION TRUST
Minister for the Environment Sussan Ley has unlocked $14 million in funding to assist the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust in the face of COVID-19 impacts on its operations.
The funding is to help the Trust, which manages former defence sites such as Cockatoo Island on Sydney Harbour, provide short-term rent relief for commercial and residential tenants and to address other revenue shortfalls.
“There is a variety of small businesses ranging from restaurants to coffee shops, function centres and small business enterprises, as well as private tenants within the portfolio, and there are continuing Trust operational costs,” Minister Ley said.
The move is separate from the independent review which will identify the best ways of ensuring the long-term preservation of the sites for public access.
AUSTRALIAN EVENT AWARDS TO PROCEED
Australian Event Awards organisers confirmed this week the program will proceed this year, celebrating the events and industry achievements of the past 12 months including, for the first time, events delivered online. Organisers acknowledged that circumstances are challenging for the tourism, events, sports and arts and culture industries as a result of COVID-19, and so they have reduced entry costs, simplified the entry process, included online events and improved the judging process. Entries will open on 29 April to all events and achievements that have taken place between 1 July 2019 and 30 June 2020. This includes those events and achievements that have had to adapt due to the COVID-19 restrictions. Visit Australian Event Awards for more information and to register.
ENJOY THE BEST OF AUSTRALIAN ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE
Tourism Australia has collated some of Australia’s best films, books, music and podcasts for people around the world to enjoy in the comfort of their lounge rooms. As a creative society, many unique Aussie perspectives have made their way into some exceptional movies, music, books and podcasts including The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (whose spiritual home is the iconic National Heritage City of Broken Hill) and stunning performances by Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Full of unforgettable stories, fascinating characters and, of course, a healthy dose of humour, Aussie entertainment is the perfect way to celebrate the essence of Australia at home right now.
FIRST LOOK UNDER CENTRAL STATION
Major construction work is well underway at Central Station to deliver Sydney Metro, including the new Central Walk, as progress continues on major infrastructure projects across NSW. As part of the biggest upgrade to Sydney’s busiest railway station in decades, two new underground metro platforms are being built as well as the landmark Central Walk underground concourse, which will make it easier for commuters to connect between light rail, suburban and inter-city trains, the new Sydney Metro and buses. Central Walk is expected to be open to customers in 2022 while Sydney Metro construction continues – with metro rail services extending from Chatswood through the city and beyond to Bankstown in 2024.
