A NEW Mount Gambier City Council initiative which empowers residents to become tour guides has celebrated its inaugural graduation.
The Guides of Mount Gambier now boasts 13 guides following a three-day training course allowing them to conduct their own tours of the city’s most popular tourist attractions, as well as their favourite best-kept secrets.
Program graduate Vanessa Roesler said she joined the Guides of Mount Gambier to try something new.
“It is something the town needs and the program has so much potential here,” Ms Roesler said.
With two set tours taking in the Crater Lakes and Umpherston Sinkhole respectively, the new guides are now able to lead groups of up to 10 people to the attractions.
The tours, which last around 45 minutes, feature the complete history of the area including geology and developments.
“There is a lot within Mount Gambier a lot of people miss, so by doing this we give them the full story,” Ms Roesler said.
Tourists and residents are able to book and pay online or in person through the Lady Nelson Visitor Information Centre.
“We had quite a few people walk up and pay online and quite a few tourists from Melbourne passing through,” Ms Roesler said.
The newly-qualified guide now hopes to develop her own tours across the region.
“I am really passionate about local tourism and the geology of the region so it is something that would be wonderful,” she said.
Hoping to incorporate her hobby of photography into her tours, Ms Roesler said she enjoyed working with other guides and council staff.
“Sharing those dreams and passions and stories is just wonderful,” she said.
Council tourism and economic development manager Donna Foster hosted Wednesday’s graduation event, congratulating the dedicated guides on their next step in the tourism sector.
“We hope this will develop further and potentially become national as it is an amazing project,” Ms Foster said.
Out of the 13 graduates, nine graduated as guides, with four named endorsed guides who will work towards running their own personal tours around the region.
