Our Pamagirri Aboriginal Experience has taken out the gold at the Queensland Tourism Awards!
We are beyond proud to announce that we have won the highly contended Qantas Award for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Tourism.
The award recognises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander tourism experiences that are truly authentic and cultivate a high level of understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Culture.
This incredible award recognises the dedication and passion of our Pamagirri Guides, who share their incredible culture with guests from each corner of the globe each and every day.
The award win also stems from the hard work that the team at Rainforestation and the CaPTA Group have put into the attraction since its inception in 1993. Since it’s humble beginnings over 26 years ago, Pamagirri have performed approximately 22,500 times and welcomed about 2,900,000 visitors.
You can watch our Cultural Development Manager, William Enoch Tranby and CaPTA Group founder Pip Woodward on the red carpet just moments after receiving the award.
As perfectly summed up by Pip and Willie, the success of the Pamagirri Aboriginal Experience lies in harmony between cultures.
The award submission recognised a successful relationship spanning over the last quarter of a century between the The Woodward family, founders and owners of the CaPTA Group, and the Enochs, who are from the Quandamooka (North Stradbroke Island) and Kaanjtju (Lockhart River) tribes.
In 1993, founders Charles and Pip Woodward began working alongside Donald Enoch, Brian Enoch and WIlliam Enoch Senior and created the Pamagirri Aboriginal Exerience. The experience was created with the permission of late Djabugay Elder Lyn Hobbler. This signified the start of an incredible relationship between the two families.
This tourism experience gave local Indigenous people a platform to share and celebrate their culture. Aboriginal culture, history, stories and traditions are shared in the Dreamtime Walk and Pamagirri Dance Show, which allows international and Australian guests to connect with the world’s oldest surviving culture.
2020: The Year of Indigenous Tourism
Incredibly enough, we received the award only hours after Premier Palaszczuk announced 2020 will be the year of Indigenous Tourism, marking a significant year ahead for the experience.
With a gold Queensland Tourism Award under our belt and the State tourism focus shifting to authentic Indigenous experiences, you are certainly going to be hearing a lot more about the Pamagirri Aboriginal Experience!
We invite you to join us and experience this fascinating ancient culture for yourself. Why not take a glance at our award on display while you’re at it?
