Campaspe Shire Council's tourism team has been named a finalist in the prestigious 2025 Victorian Tourism Awards, recognised in the Local Government Tourism category for their outstanding contribution to the region's visitor economy.
The Victorian Tourism Awards, presented by the Victorian Tourism Industry Council (VTIC), celebrate excellence, innovation, and collaboration across the tourism sector. To be named a finalist, entrants must meet a rigorous benchmark, achieving a minimum score of 70% in their submission.
The submission highlighted the team's achievements throughout the 2024/25 financial year, showcasing its commitment to strengthening the local tourism industry through strategic initiatives and community engagement.
A key feature of Council's efforts was the delivery of a formal awards mentoring program, designed to support local tourism operators entering the awards for the first time. Tourism industry specialist trainer Karen Oliver guided three local businesses through the awards process, and as a result of this initiative, all three businesses — Wisps of Wool, Goolwa River Retreat, and My Coffee Cart — have also been named finalists in their respective categories.
Campaspe Shire Council's Director Communities, Jo Bradshaw, commended the tourism team for its efforts.
"This recognition is a testament not only to the hard work of our tourism team but also to the strength of our local operators.
"We're proud to have supported these businesses through the dedicated awards mentoring program and look forward to celebrating their success at the awards night."
All finalists will be celebrated at the Victorian Tourism Awards Gala Ceremony on 27 November in Melbourne, where more than 900 industry professionals will gather to honour the best in Victorian tourism.
