The Hawkesbury Paddlewheeler will be back on the Hawkesbury River for Father's Day, 6 September, offering COVID-Safe cruising. Captain Ian Burns is also celebrating the Paddlewheeler's return with an official launch on 4 October and he says he has appreciated Council's Business Bounce Back Program which helped him get back on track.
"Thanks to the help from the Business Bounce Back Program, the Hawkesbury Paddlewheeler is back in operation, and we've started taking bookings again.
"The mentors in the program have been absolutely responsive and now I'm putting into action everything I've learned in the one on one sessions and the webinars. I've adopted a whole new business mindset and now we can navigate through new challenges just as well we can navigate the Hawkesbury River."
The Hawkesbury Paddlewheeler is a locally owned and family operated business that has been cruising the Hawkesbury River for over 35 years from historic Windsor.
"We offer an award-winning tourist attraction. I was so proud when we won the most outstanding specialised business of the year in the Hawkesbury for 2019," Captain Burns said.
'We've certainly taken some difficult blows from the bushfires, floods, the Windsor Bridge development and COVID-19," he said.
"Joining in the Business Bounce Back Program has been a huge help to getting our confidence back and developing the business know-how to get back on the water.
"The marketing assistance included in this program is great; it's a real boost like we've never had before," he said.
"We've always taken pride in providing a family friendly, fun filled atmosphere at reasonable prices, and we're back on deck to do it all again!"
