When ANZ Business Banking NSW South Coast regional executive Adele Fiene volunteered as a tour guide for cruise ship visitors to Glenbernie Orchard she realised how proud she was of Wollongong. Her mother’s family has more than 100 years history in the Illawarra and she loves her home town so much she cannot wait to show it off again. Royal Caribbean received nothing but positive feedback by the way Radiance of the Seas passengers were treated by Mrs Fiene, Premier Motor Service’s John King and Glenbernie Orchard’s Jo Fahey. Now she is inspired to be an ambassador again when Voyager of the Seas arrives on December 27. After the Radiance visit and with Rememberence Day on Friday and a 101 year old Illawarra Mercury article about he great uncle Frederick Powell returning to a mayoral reception from WWI she has been inspired to write about how proud she is of Wollongong, how much has changed over the last century and how much there is to look forward to. A city where she is proud to raise her two sons and is confident about their future in such a magnificent part of the world. “Being involved in local business I believe we need to embrace the changes and continue to build solid and strategic foundations. That is why I have written the article.” Mrs Feine lives close to Wollongong Railway Station where her great great grandfather (also a Frederick Powell) was station master when the rail link was built to Port Kembla, near where Radiance berthed. Her parents Janet & Allan Hanna and brother Mark still live in Helensburgh and sister Kelly Dinnerville is at the Cancer Council.
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Radiance voyage a day to remember
As Radiance of the Seas sailed away on Sunday Captain Goran Peterson made an announcement to all on board saying what a wonderful day it had been. “This was my very first visit to Wollongong. People are very nice and very warm and welcoming and I definitely don’t want it to be the last,” he said.
During the day directors of Destination Wollongong took a moment to reflect on the achievement and many passengers from the region such as Geoff Jones, John King and Tony and Glenda Papac remarked on it being a moment in history that no one will forget in a hurry. Mr King enjoyed it on his birthday and said it doesn’t get any better for the region than what happened on Sunday.
“This is a bit emotional. It’s been a great welcome and very exciting,” Mr Jones said. Mrs Papac said it was such a good day for Wollongong and her husband said during the fireworks he observed how it looked like such a modern, progressive, dynamic city.
Global Tourists Love Our Region
International Radiance passengers love the Gong
Joseph Dixon, of New Zealand, has cruised many parts of the world but described Sunday’s visit to Wollongong the best day he has very experienced. He was particularly impressed with the volunteers and how enthusiastic they were on just about every corner.
“It has been a brilliant day,” Mr Dixon said.
“The people and the organisation made it fantastic. We went to the markets, did some shopping and talked to people. It is the best cruise stop we have every had. If you can do what you did this time again you are going to get more cruise ships. We have your local newspaper panorama that we are going to put in a frame and hang on our wall because we are so proud to have come here. We knew nothing about you but we do know now and you people are brilliant.”
Mr Dixon said Wollongong was certainly cruise ready and deserved the interest it is getting. He felt blessed to be on the first mega-liner to Wollongong.
Mary, of Boston, chose to holiday 10 days in Australia and do the maiden cruise to Wollongong because it was an opportunity to do something different and visit a place that is different. She said she had heard of Wollongong before and thoroughly enjoyed her time in Lang Park and the welcome all the passengers on the shuttles received from the mayor and helpful volunteers in blue shirts. She admits feeling a little special being on Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas on Sunday. “We stayed in the part for about an hour or so, looked around...and did some souvenir shopping and then we boarded our bus to take a tour. We went to the temple and then we went across Sea Cliff Bridge. And we saw some of the beaches on the way back..to the top of the mall and did some shopping. I like Wollongong. It is interesting and people are nice. The scenery is beautiful. It is very nice.”
John Snider, of Ohio, said the Wollongong visit was a great way to spend his first holiday to Australia and loved the historic aircraft fly over. “We are very honoured to be on this cruise”.
Premier bus boss’s memorable day
A birthday to remember for Premier Motor Service boss
What better way to spend your birthday than to welcome and help show off the region you love and call home.
That is what John King, of Premier Motor Services, did on Sunday.
Instead of spending the day relaxing in holiday mode on the deck of Radiance of the Seas and watching the day unfold Mr King was down on the wharf in a suit guiding passengers, talking to drivers and generally ensuring the shuttle and tour bus service ran like clockwork for all the passengers who wanted to visit the Wollongong city centre or explore the region.
It was only when Radiance of the Seas was sailing out through the breakwater at Port Kembla that he stood up on the deck with four generations of his family admiring the view, reflecting on the milestone day for the region and began celebrating his own birthday.
But when approached by the Illawarra Mercury about how he was feeling at the end of the day he could only talk about how good it was the city and the region.
“What a great day for Wollongong. It doesn’t get any better than this. It is the best thing ever,” he said.
“It all ran smoothly. It couldn’t have gone better. “
Asked what he might do to top October 30 for his birthday next year Mr King said that was an interesting question.
He was in a family group of 11 on the whole week long cruise from Sydney to Melbourne, Hobart, Port Kembla and back to Sydney and is thinking such an amazing week with so much excitement and historical significance may be very difficult to ever beat.
“Hopefully another cruise ship here….how is that,” he said.
Mr King said it was a great day for the whole region including the Shoalhaven where he lives and the Southern Highlands where some of the tours went.
Premier Motor Service used around 30 buses that were all waiting and ready to go when Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas arrived.
Standing on deck 12 looking back at Wollongong at the end of the day Mr King said he also really enjoyed the fly over by several old planes restored by volunteers at the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) at Illawarra Regional Airport at Albion Park.
As well as fireworks near Wollongong Golf Club as the mega-liner began to sail past Flagstaff Hill.
On their return other passengers said they really enjoyed the Australian Motorlife Museum near Dapto saying it was the best collection of vintage vehicles they have ever seen.
Symbio Wildlife Park, Bald Hill, Sea Cliff Bridge, Kiama Blowhole, Illawarra Fly Tree Top Walk and Fitzroy Falls also impressed.
Sandy Vasconcelos, of Shellharbour, said it was an amazing day and an amazing week she will never forget.
“It was so exciting,” she said.
Greg Ellis
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
