Magnetic Island is to have a new Local Tourism Organisation with Tourism Queensland. The new group will present Island businesses and residents with an opportunity to have a voice in how the island is represented. To launch themselves in the community the new group will present a Trivia Quiz Night, this Saturday, Nov 28 at the MI Country (Golf) Club.

“It’s time that the island was represented by a group that come from the Island and who listen to the island’s concerns,” President of Tourism Magnetic Island, Lindsay Simpson said.

“We rely on tourism for our livelihood, yet important decisions are being made by outside bodies where we often have no say in the outcome. We also hope to help businesses out in a practical way by running networking functions.

“At these networking functions, there will be everything from discussions on help on spending advertising money - we might all club together and do one ad for our destination - to which accountant to choose, or what phone systems to adopt.

“We hope to make tourism a focus for our members so that they can really build their businesses. We all understand, as we all work in the tourism industry, how hard it is battling as a small businesses. We really want to work for our community.”

The Trivia Quiz Night will be the group's first community networking function, sponsored by the Magnetic Island Community Development Association at the Golf Club at Picnic Bay on November 28.

“We’ll have some fun questions about tourism on the Island ranging from the marine life to some history questions and some local knowledge,” Lindsay said.

Committee members include: Lindsay Simpson - President (Providence V), Sara Shaw - Deputy President (Butterfly House), Phil Coleman – Treasurer (C:Drive Rentals), Ali Angus - Secretary (Discovery Travel and Internet Magnetic Island), and Jillian Caunter (Noodies on the Beach), Rick Braley (Aquasearch), Dave Dawson (Tropical Palms Inn & 4WD Hire) and Nicky Meenhorst (Nicky Meenhorst Productions).

Further initiatives the committee is working on include representation on the committees and discussion groups listed below:
Townsville City Council – Proposed Local Tourism Plan
Tourism Queensland – new projects on the island (eg sustainable funds)
Townsville Enterprise Ltd Tourism committee
Nelly Bay Harbour revegetation project
Sunferries Community Consultative Committee

The Committee’s plans include a website to promote Magnetic Island and its members businesses; representation at the Visitor Information Centres (run by TEL); marketing collateral to feature Magnetic Island as a destination – such as billboards and putting the island ‘out there’ on the highways, as well as cooperative advertising opportunities.

Anyone who would like to find out more information about joining the group should contact Lindsay Simpson 0408 278 417 or Sara Shaw on 0413 809 765.

Trivia Night 2009 details
Sat 28th November
Picnic Bay Country Club (Golf Club)
starts: 6.30pm
$10 includes food from Nel's Famous Indonesian food

Tickets are limited so book today! Simply call Alli at DTIMI on 4758 1173, BH 8am-6pm email her at alli@dtimi.com.au, or drop by to DTIMI next to IGA Magnetic Island.