The Q Train

We're still on Cloud 9 after Thursday's Victoria Tourism Industry Council (VTIC) Tourism Awards. We won GOLD for Tourism Restaurants & Catering Services, and will be making our way to the Nationals (!!) next year. An enormous thank you to Tourism Greater Geelong & The Bellarine and Anna Heaton for their support and mentoring. And a huge congratulations to all the winners from our region: 🥇Gold Award Recipients🥇 Hop It - Tour and Transport Operators Port Phillip Ferries - Major Tour and Transport Operators Tourism Greater Geelong and The Bellarine - Tourism Marketing and Campaigns 🥈Silver Award Recipients🥈 GMHBA Stadium Higher Mark - Business Events Venues Liberty Balloon Flights - Adventure Tourism Adventure Park (Australia) Geelong, Victoria Winter Glow Festival - Festivals and Events Geelong Arts Centre - Cultural Tourism 🥉Bronze Award Recipients🥉 Accessible Accommodation (The Accessible Group) - Excellence in Accessible Accommodation

"With so many makers and growers throughout Geelong and the Bellarine, it’s difficult to taste all the best seasonal produce – unless you book a seat on The Q Train." 😍 Thanks so much to Australian Traveller Media for featuring us in their article "Why Geelong and the Bellarine is the ultimate foodie destination". https://lnkd.in/gJiQzCmC

The Q Train has proudly signed up for the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program, which supports people with disabilities that may not be obvious to the casual observer. Many people with a disability use or carry something – whether that’s a wheelchair, guide dog, hearing aid or white cane – that visibly indicates what the disability might be. But other disabilities, such as autism, dementia, mental health issues or learning difficulties, are not so obvious. Under the Hidden Disability Sunflower scheme, people with such disabilities can choose to wear a lanyard (or pin) bearing a sunflower logo as a subtle way of letting others know that they may require additional support, assistance or a bit more time. Onboard the Q Train, you may see staff wearing green Sunflower pins. These staff members have chosen to make their hidden disability visible. You may see staff wearing a white Sunflower pin.   These staff members have completed the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower training and will help guests wearing a Sunflower lanyard or pin with any support or adjustments they may need. For more information regarding all of The Q Train’s accessibility measures, please visit https://lnkd.in/gTbDU5TS

We're thrilled to announce that Georgia successfully passed her Fireman exam with the Bellarine Railway recently. This means you’ll find her as a Second Person on some of our Diesel services. You may already know Georgia from our front-of-house team, where she's been a First-Class butler for two years. Showing keen interest in the engines, Georgia also joined our maintenance team in 2022. The team is proud of Georgia's achievement; join us in congratulating Georgia on becoming The Q Train’s first female train crew member.

It's hard not to be excited about this! Emma Atkinson has been working diligently to link The Q Train and the cruise market, and let me tell you, it's been worth it! 🚆 🚢