Grace Atkinson said she was honoured to be recognised as one of Victoria’s best guides in the inaugural Top Tour Guide Awards.
Photo by
Louie Cina
Grace Atkinson, 23, has continued northern Victoria’s strong showing at the Victorian Tourism Conference, with the Yorta Yorta cultural knowledge holder and Dharnya Centre guide named a high achiever finalist in the inaugural Top Tour Guide Awards.
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The award, presented alongside the Top Tourism Town Awards, where Echuca was named Victoria’s best destination and Rochester finished as a finalist, recognises the significant contribution that quality tour guides make in providing memorable experiences to visitors.
Ms Atkinson, who finished fourth out of the nine guides named as the award’s inaugural finalists, said she was honoured by the recognition.
“It’s pretty awesome,” Ms Atkinson said.
“Being the first year they’ve done it, it’s pretty special coming fourth ... out of everyone across Victoria.”
Ms Atkinson grew up frequently visiting the national park she now calls her office.
After finishing high school she wasn’t sure what career she wanted to pursue, working at St Mary’s Primary School while keeping her eye out for interesting opportunities.
Her break came when she saw an ad for a job with Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation as a guide at the Dharnya Centre, with the opportunity that the role provided to challenge other people’s perceptions of First Nations people proving a big drawcard.
Grace Atkinson embraces the opportunity that her role gives her to challenge people’s perceptions.
Photo by
Louie Cina
“Getting the opportunity to lead the way for the next generation and share my heritage and the knowledge that I have with (different groups) ... it’s pretty awesome,” she said.
“(I was inspired to take this role) by with where we’re at with people’s thoughts about Aboriginal people.
“(I want to break down the myths around) what a Welcome to Country ceremony is, what a smoking ceremony is (by) getting (people) out here to see what a Welcome to Country, what a smoking ceremony is and what they mean.
“(I want) to just crack all those beliefs that people hold which (might not be) 100 per cent true.”
As is often the case with a new job, it took Ms Atkinson time to find her feet, something she said was made easier by her fellow Dharnya guide, Yorta Yorta Elder Ralph Hume.
“He’s taught me a lot of things throughout my career here,” Ms Atkinson said.
“Debunking the things that I’ve said which aren’t true, to having a laugh at me, to telling me what the true things are.
“Getting the opportunity at such a young age to learn about a lot of things (has really shaped me as a guide).”
Ms Atkinson leads walking tours around Barmah’s Yamyabuc Trail and boat tours along the Murray River and Barmah Lakes, working with Yorta Yorta Elders to share stories of Country, culture and connection to land and waterways.
She has recently added another string to her bow, becoming a qualified coxswain, which will allow her to pilot The Kingfisher, the boat used for the cultural and ecological tours.
Grace aboard The Kingfisher.
Photo by
Louie Cina
“The Barmah National Park is the world’s largest naturally grown river red gum forest,” she said.
“We get a lot of international visitors to look at the forest and where we are at the moment, we’re on the skinniest part of the (Murray) river, so a lot of people come down to see what’s called the choke or narrows.
“One of my highlights is when we get school groups out here and watching the kids be so interested and engaged.
“At the end, they’re saying thank you, and it’s pretty cool that these kids are thinking that what I’m saying is interesting and they’re learning new things.”
With the weather heating up, and the Dharnya Centre now boasting one of Victoria’s top tour guides, Ms Atkinson is hoping for a busy summer.
“The recognition is great,” she said.
“Hopefully it will give the opportunity, now that the Dharnya Centre is open, for a few more people who haven’t heard of us before to come and visit.”
Those interested in finding out more about the Dharnya Centre can visit dharnyacentre.com.au
