PR-016-2021
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Victoria Office invited the Consular Corps to a regional tour of southwestern Victoria on 18-19 May 2021. The tour focused on regional economy, showcasing the important traditions of dairy, wool and whisky production and the region’s emerging new technologies in energy, marine sciences and contemporary craft. It highlighted large-scale operations as well as boutique businesses that demonstrate local expertise and international export reach.
Among the destinations visited were the Mt. Gellibrand Wind Farm with its 44 wind turbines producing 132 MW of wind energy; the Tarndwarncoort Homestead, home to Australia’s first breed of sheep, the Polwarth sheep; Alderwood, producer of Eros Pro, world’s most powerful speaker of its incredibly small size; and Deakin University where research capability through the Hycel Project energy is being developed.
The Hon. Dan Tehan, Member of Parliament for Wannon and Minister of Trade, Tourism and Investment met the Consular Corps at Deakin University with his twofold message: the Hycel Project is a response for the energy needs of the future and Deakin University in Warrnambool welcomes more international students.
The group also visited Port Fairy, a historic fishing town with beautiful buildings from the 1800s; Bamstone, producer of natural bluestone (basalt) products for domestic and international markets; Timboon Railway Shed Distillery an old restored railway shed turned distillery producing award-winning single malt whisky; Timboon Fine Ice Cream, a family business distributing to 80 gourmet stores and IGAs across Victoria; and Schultz Organic Creamery, producer of the highest quality of milk from a single herd of healthy Friesian and Jersey cows.
The tour made an impact on the visiting diplomats on what the region has to offer and how a promotional tour should be organized.–END
