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State Trails Conference takes off

The 2010 WA State Trails Conference was held at Perth Zoo on 17 June 2010. Hosted by the Department of Sport and Recreation (DSR) the conference brought together members of the trails community and gave them a chance to share their knowledge, visions and ideas. It also provided attendees with the opportunity to listen to some of the most influential thinkers in the trails sphere present their views on key issues.

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Skywest sponsorship recipientsThanks to Skywest the effects of the conference will be felt State-wide with the airline sponsoring flights to Perth for four attendees from locations such as Derby, Kalgoorlie, Geraldton and the Great Southern.

Team Leader for Community Development in the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Callan Hatchman, was one of them and said the conference was extremely well put together and would be beneficial for his part of the world.

“I came to the conference primarily to share ideas, but I came away with a lot more,” he said.

“I was also able to get a valuable insight into the value of using trails as a means of embracing Indigenous culture and youth at risk after attending a presentation by Dr Noel Nannup. I definitely think concept is one that could have a positive influence on our community. It really illustrates how trails are more than just dirt paths through bushland. They are a means to connect a community.

“Without support from Skywest, we simply wouldn’t have had the resources to attend the conferences and I have no doubt that we would be poorer for it.”

Bradley Isbister, Manager for Community Development in the Shire of Derby, said the conference was a chance to find out how to accentuate the features of his community.

“I came to the conference primarily on a fact-finding mission. My main concern for our region was improving the tourist experience particularly through the use of new technologies,” he said.

DSR Recreation Development Leader Steve Bennett said thanks to the Skywest sponsorship, the conference would have a ripple effect that would be felt state-wide.

“Skywest gave DSR the opportunity to have nine out of the ten regions in Western Australia represented at the conference. This tied in nicely with the conference theme which was ‘bringing trails together’,” he said.

“Judging by the feedback, everyone had a great day. It was evident that attendees took the opportunity to network and learn about what others are doing in their trail area.”

 
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