The IRT Foundation and Destination Wollongong are celebrating the volunteer ambassador program they are involved in winning the NSW Centre for Volunteering’s Illawarra Volunteer Team of the Year Award.
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The recognition is for their partnership with the successful 2016 Cruise Wollongong Ambassador Program.
The initiative recruited and trained almost 500 volunteers to welcome over 15,000 visitors from three cruise ships.
It started with Royal Caribbean’s cruise ship Radiance of the Seas sailing into Port Kembla Harbour last October but Destination Wollongong general manager Mark Sleigh and IRT Foundation manager Toby Dawson said will continue with other events in and around Wollongong.
The cruise ship volunteers acted as welcomers, bus guides, visitor information assistants and tour guides and Mr Sleigh and Mr Dawson are most happy for them to receive such recognition for an amazing effort.
IRT residents were among those involved. And the recognition of more than 100 ambassadors by the NSW Centre for Volunteering is seen as a testament to their enthusiasm, dedication and professionalism.
As a volunteer ambassador Mr Dawson described Marion Millar as a seasoned campaigner who had done a wonderful job for her city.
Mrs Millar said it was terrific the initiative had been so successful and was being recognised.
“Wollongong is such a wonderful place,” she said.
“I got involved because Mark Sleigh came to our VIEW club and asked for volunteers. I’ve done a lot of overseas travelling and a lot of ports I have been so have had similar welcomers. I think this is a really great way to put Wollongong on the map.”
Mrs Millar said all the other volunteers involved in the program were excited and proud of the latest recognition. But the greatest reward is the comments they get back about how wonderful Wollongong is. And the reason they do it because they are so passionate about the city.
Janice Liddiard is looking forward to being a first time volunteer ambassador.
“I was out of the the country last year. I think Wollongong is a great place to be and for for people to visit,” she said.
IRT Foundation and Destination Wollongong are still calling for volunteer ambassadors with the next visit scheduled being the return of Radiance of the Seas to Port Kembla on January 29. Registrations at visitwollongong.com.au.
Mr Dawson said from IRT’s perspective the program had definitely attracted the interest of other age care providers around Australia looking to find ways to help keep people engaged and active in their communities.
Ms Sleigh said the feedback from everybody as a result of the Wollongong program has been fantastic.
“We are very excited to extend the program this year to not just the cruise ship visitors but evolving it to greet people to other major events over the summer period,” he said.
“We look forward to be able to roll out these fantastic ambassadors to greet people. There is a significant international event coming in February. Having smiling ambassadors welcoming them in hotel lobbies and help them make the most of their week in Wollongong is pretty important.”
Destination Wollongong ambassador program project manager Stuart Barnes said the initiative is now in the running for a state award in December.
“It is such a good resource. The Wollongong ambassadors are great people. They love their city and they want to pass that on. I think it is a really important to for Wollongong to have people with so much pride when we are kicking so many goals and winning so many events. We are putting out the marketing of this great city and having so many people who are physically doing it as proud residents is superb.”
Related stories:
- Calling all volunteer ambassadors who are proud of Wollongong and want to give a big warm friendly welcome to cruise ship passengers
- Wollongong turns on perfect weather to welcome Norwegian Star
- Wollongong's army of volunteers prepare to welcome Radiance of the Seas
- Cruise ship turnarounds still on the radar at Port Kembla
- Whales help welcome Radiance of the Seas
- How a Wollongong biker made a big impression on Radiance captain
- Voyager of the Seas cruises into Wollongong for the second time in three weeks
- Voyager of the Seas arrives in Wollongong: photos
- Cruise ship passengers and crew add to public holiday shopping excitement in the city
- Voyager visit a big success
- Thank you for Radiance welcome as Voyager charts December 27
- Inside Radiance of the Seas’ voyage to Wollongong
- Voyager captain loves the Gong
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.
