See the Western Downs as you’ve never seen it before with a Regional Tour

Council is offering the opportunity to unleash your inner adventurer at Big Skies 2019 with chartered tours of the Western Downs, highlighting the unique experiences only our region can offer.

Ten Regional Tours will be held on Thursday 2 and Friday 3 May, exploring a variety of industries across the Western Downs.

Energy production, agricultural traditions, innovative manufacturing and more will be on display to visitors of the region during Big Skies.

Western Downs Regional Council Mayor Paul McVeigh said the tours were a great opportunity to show visitors and residents what goes on behind the doors of some of our region’s most successful businesses, farming operations and tourism hotspots.

“The Western Downs has a strong economic history steeped in agriculture, manufacturing and energy,” he said.

“Now Big Skies is giving visitors from far and wide the opportunity to get behind the scenes of these cornerstone industries.

“But it’s not just for out-of-towners— people who have lived in the Western Downs all their life may have never seen what goes on at a cotton farm and this is their chance to find out.”

Tour Four will take visitors on a historical journey in the Tara region, where they’ll hear from famous bush poet Geoffrey Graham and view the rich history of the Meandarra ANZAC Museum.

Visitors will see the wind turbines up close and personal on Tour Five, where they’ll have a detailed view of Australia’s largest wind farm — Cooper’s Gap Wind Farm.

Join Chinchilla local Lindsay Marsden on Tour Seven as he explains the history of the town and the Cactoblastis Monument — a unique memorial commemorating the destruction of the prickly pear by the Cactoblastis moth in Queensland and Northern New South Wales between 1926 and 1933.

Western Downs local Lindsay Marsden will share his expertise on the Chinchilla Historical and Agriculture Tour on Friday 3 May.

“I’m a third-generation here and I’m really looking forward to giving the tour,” he said.

Dingo Australia Chief Executive Officer Rohan May, who is a key figure in the Western Downs Thriving Industries Tour on Friday 3 May, said he was looking forward to people seeing how much care he and all his staff put into what they do.

“It’s an opportunity that we wouldn’t otherwise have to demonstrate what we do and show how strong manufacturing is in our town,” he said.

“We’re excited to show people the new technologies we’re using, as well as the level of care that we put into everything we do and construct.

“The Regional Tours are great news for the town, great news for the region and it’s really going to put us on the map as one of the must-see regions in Australia.”

The following Regional Tours will be held on Thursday 2 May and Friday 3 May:

• Tour One: Miles Agricultural Leaders Tour — 8am to 4.30pm on Thursday 2 May • Tour Two: Dalby District Agricultural Success Tour — 8am to 4.30pm on Thursday 2 May • Tour Three: Dalby’s Rich History and Manufacturing Tour — 8.30am to 4.30pm on Thursday 2 May • Tour Four: Tara District Historical and Agricultural Traditions Tour — 8am to 4.30pm on Thursday 2 May • Tour Five: Sustainable Energy Exploration Tour — 8.30am to 4.30pm on Thursday 2 May • Tour Six: Western Downs Agricultural Leaders Tour — 8am to 4.30pm on Friday 3 May • Tour Seven: Chinchilla Historical and Agriculture Tour — 8.30am to 4.30pm on Friday 3 May • Tour Eight: Wandoan’s History and Timber Industry Tour — 8am to 4.30pm on Friday 3 May • Tour Nine: Western Downs Thriving Industries Tour — 8.30am to 4pm on Friday 3 May • Tour Ten: Western Downs Energy Capital Tour — 8am to 4.30pm on Friday 3 May

For more information or to book tickets, visit www.bigskiesevents.com.au.

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Media Contact:

Madison Imhoff | Communications Officer | 0419 940 846 | 07 4679 4136