The 2011 South Australian Tourism Awards were announced on Friday night during a black tie dinner held at the Adelaide Convention Centre. The awards span some 28 categories, covering everything from major attractions and international events to small boutique tourism operators.
The self-guided “Heritage Highlights” interpretive trail of West Terrace Cemetery (which opened in March this year, and for which I wrote the text – see here for details) was entered in the New Tourism Development category (Category 25)
In each category, awards are given out based on the judges’ score each entry receives: a Bronze award for a score above 75%; Silver for 80% or higher; and Gold for 90% or higher. There is also an overall winner for the best entry in each category.
I was at the awards dinner as a guest of the Adelaide Cemeteries Authority, who had entered the trail into the Awards. While we were hoping to pick up a prize, we had no idea what to expect because the category had a strong and very diverse field of entries (including boutique restaurants and shark tours). So we were all a little bit shocked (and delighted) when it was announced that we’d won the category!
It was great for all of us involved to receive peer recognition for the project. It’s been a few years in the planning: I first got involved in 2008, when the Cemetery first commissioned its interpretation plan. But it’s not over yet! The next phase of interpretive signage now in its early stage of development and is due to be installed in mid-2012.