Award-winning tourism business directors Melinda Loe and Hohepa Ruhe, of Fishermans Paradise, discussed their experiences at the Rotary Club of Milton-Ulladulla’s September meeting.
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The business operators, who founded Kohati tourism in 2013, spoke about their multi-facted business which operates at Lake Conjola and Sydney. The pair also act as an agent and tourism consultant for Aboriginal tourism operators in Sydney, Scotts Head and Narooma.
They also work with Koori Kinnections, an Aboriginal education business, to offer curriculum-linked Aboriginal and Māori Cultural programs for schools, early childhood and vacation care centres.
Kotahi Tourism Directors Melinda Loe and Hohepa Ruhe were invited to the Rotary Club of Milton-Ulladulla last week to talk about their award-winning tourism and education business, founded in 2013 and run from their home in Fishermans Paradise.
“We're passionate about cultural heritage, our beautiful natural environment and 'manaakitanga', taking care of our visitors. Through our unique range of tours and education programs, we connect people to the diverse cultures, history, nature and heritage of coastal New South Wales”, Ms Loe said.
The pair met when they were both working at Te Papa Tongarewa - the Museum of New Zealand.
They moved to Sydney in 2001 where Melinda managed The Rocks Discovery Museum and Sydney Learning Adventures for The Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority, and Hohepa worked at the Sydney Visitor Centres, before making the 'sea and tree change' to the South Coast and fulfilling a dream of running their own business.
Both are dual citizens of Australia and New Zealand, so “you won't see us standing for parliament”, Melinda said.
Their business was last week announced the 2018 winner of Interpretation Australia's Awards for Excellence.
The Sydney tour has also been awarded 2018 Luxury Tour Guide Awards Tour Operator of the Year - Sydney. The Rotarians on the night thanked them for their presentation and wished them more success in the future.