Goldfields Getaway
7 June, 2021
New home in historic site
As visitors enter the Central Goldfields Visitor Information Centre, they are struck by two things. One is the incredible architecture of the historic Maryborough Railway Station. The other is the warm welcome from the centre’s staff. Lee Duffin...
As visitors enter the Central Goldfields Visitor Information Centre, they are struck by two things. One is the incredible architecture of the historic Maryborough Railway Station. The other is the warm welcome from the centre’s staff.
Lee Duffin, Team Leader of the visitor information centre, said she is proud of the team and the passion they have for promoting the local area.
“We are often the first people visitors meet when they come to the area,” Lee said.
“The feedback we’ve received is that we offer a really lovely welcome, so that’s a nice compliment to receive.”
The three part-time staff, one casual and seven volunteers work on a roster system to ensure the information centre is open seven days a week. As well as providing local information and historical highlights, staff can help visitors with services such as applying for a prospecting licence.
With tourism figures more than double what they were in 2019, and a beautiful building to work in, Lee hopes others will consider volunteering with the visitor information team. Although many of the staff and volunteers have lived in the area most of their lives, Lee is keen to encourage newcomers to the area to consider volunteering.
“We had a volunteer application recently from a woman who moved to the area about 18 months ago. Her perspective is that it was a great way to learn a bit more about the area as well as engage with the public.
“We’re busier than ever here and it’s a lovely job, we are usually meeting people when they are on holidays and happy. We fully train our volunteers; they don’t have to feel that they need to have lived here for 20 years.”
