 | |
We’d like to take this opportunity to wish you all a safe festive season and a prosperous 2009. With warm tropical wishes from the Quicksilver Group Crew
 As you will see in this Quickies issue, we have been bestowed with many awards recently - from environmental accolades to an amazing world first for Pro Dive Cairns.
We would like to share with you our enormous pride of being inducted into the Queensland Tourism Hall of Fame and our success at the recent Queensland Tourism Awards.
We were honoured with two prestigious awards and having won the “Major Tour and Transport Operator” award for three consecutive years, the Quicksilver Group was admitted into the Queensland Tourism “Hall of Fame”.
Quicksilver Group Managing Director Tony Baker said, “We’re extremely proud to be acknowledged with these awards which recognise continued commitment to quality customer service, innovation and environmentally sustainable practices.
“This success belongs with our fantastic staff at the front line and behind the scenes who make sure we really do provide the best reef experiences every day for our visitors. To win the award three years in a row certainly reinforces that we do have fantastic people across all areas of our operation.” » Read Full Story
|
| |
 |
 | |  |
| | | 
|
Pro Dive Cairns World First - 100,000th Certified Diver
Pro Dive Cairns made history in the diving industry recently when they certified their 100,000th PADI diver. This is indeed a remarkable achievement and will certainly be noted as a day to remember for both Pro Dive Cairns and Professional Association of Dive Instructors (PADI) – and an unsuspecting novice German diver! Maike Federhenn was surprised and thrilled with the honour ... Read Full Story |
|
|
Diving Queen - Rhonda Dives in!
Our Marketing Co-ordinator Rhonda Martin has recently fulfilled a life long dream and has become a certified diver. We hope you’ll enjoy reading about her experience... I’ve lived in the north most my live and have known a number of divers. It was always something that I was going to do ‘one day’. That ‘one day’ happened last week. I signed myself up for the Pro Dive’s 5 day PADI “Open Water” course. The course starts in the classroom where I met my fellow students ... Read Full Story |
|
 |
Green Island Cleans up Keep Australia Beautiful Awards
Green Island’s beautiful beaches have again been recognised as amongst the best in the Far North with two awards in the annual Keep Australia Beautiful Clean Beach Challenge – “Cleanest Beach” and the “Resource Recovery Award”.Just 27 km offshore from Cairns, Green Island is a popular destination for locals and visitors alike from around the world to enjoy beach activities, rainforest boardwalks and local community events throughout the year.
... Read Full Story |
|
 |
New program recognises Climate Action
Ecotourism Australia's new “Climate Action Certification Program” has been finalised and Quicksilver has been one of the first companies to trial and be certified by the program.Quicksilver has been certified as a “Climate Action Innovator” in recognition of adaptation and emissions reduction, auditing and measuring of our carbon footprint. According to Ecotourism Australia, holiday-makers and travellers will easily be able to judge the efforts being made by tourism
... Read Full Story |
|
|
It’s Squid Squad Time!
With the school holidays just around the corner, the Squid Squad will be back for some junior Great Barrier Reef fun, Quicksilver style! Our fun kids club on Quicksilver’s Outer Reef cruise has proved a popular treat for children and families travelling to the reef.Commencing again for the forthcoming school holiday period, 12 December 2008 – 29 January 2009, the Squid Squad offers ... Read Full Story |
|
 |
Green Island Resort’s environmental practices awarded
Green Island Resort’s eco-sensitive practices were acknowledged at the annual Queensland Hotels Association Awards for Excellence, taking out the award for “Best Environmental Practice”. At this major event for the Hotel and Hospitality industry, Green Island Resort was recognised for commitment to environmental practices including energy efficiency, water, recycling and ... Read Full Story |
|
 |
Glass Bottom Kayak Tours for Green Island
We’re pleased to advise of a great new activity available for guests to enjoy while on Green Island. Guided glass bottom kayak tours are now available for day guests from the Beach Hire hut. For Green Island Resort houseguests, the resort activities officer will be leading guided sunset tours. This eco-based activity will be conducted to suit beginner, intermediate and advanced levels ... Read Full Story |
|
 |
Silversonic, Spinner Dolphins and a Sea Cucumber!
Check this out for an amazing encounter! Silversonic’s skipper, “Sharky”, recently captured this photo of a spinner dolphin playfully tossing a sea cucumber. A large pod of the dolphins were seen during Silversonic's day at Agincourt Reef. It truly is an amazing aquatic playground! ... Read Full Story |
|
 |
Quicksilver’s “Mad Scientists” meet Dr Karl
Our own dynamic duo of “mad scientists” Russell Hore and Doug Baird recently joined famous Australian scientist and media personality Dr Karl Kruszelnicki for an entertaining chat on their regular Port Douglas Radio Show.Dr Karl as he is known, has a totally infectious enthusiasm for science. While on air, the topics ranged from Climate Change to animal conservation and frogs that could turn off stomach acids to have babies!
... Read Full Story |
|
| |  | |
 |
 |
Green Island Ocean Swim
A new course record was set when swimmers competed in the annual Great Adventures Green Island Ocean Swim on Sunday 28 September with 1.5km and 3km swims in this unique Great Barrier Reef event ... Read Full Story |
|
|
Dreaming of a Green Christmas
In tune with our tropical climate, the chefs at Green Island Resort’s Emeralds Restaurant have designed a wonderful buffet lunch menu featuring the freshest seafood, a cold selection including traditional fare of turkey breast and carvery, sensational salads and decadent desserts. For more information about a day trip package to enjoy this delightful Christmas Day lunch, contact Great Adventures on (07) 4044 9944 or res@greatadventures.com.au ... Read More
|
|
|
Quicksilver Group Christmas Charity Appeal
Our annual Christmas Charity appeal, now in its 5th year, is well underway. Scuba Santa was a unique spectacle as he dived in to launch the appeal at the Cairns Lagoon and on a jet ski in the Port Douglas inlet! With the support of many local tour desks and industry colleagues we endeavour to bring a little Christmas cheer to those less fortunate in our community through donations of food and gifts to the Salvation Army, Lifeline, St Vincent’s and Douglas Shire Community. ... Read Full Story
|
|
|
“Movember” – Moustaches for a cause!
If the Silversonic crew looked a little hairy last month, it was all for a good cause! All of the male crew (11) formed the “Movember Club”, growing a ‘mo’ to support the annual Movember event for research into men’s health issues such as prostate cancer and depression. “Each morning passengers where advised as to why they have such a “hairy” crew and our passengers were delighted to donate to the worthy cause,” said Mark the skipper.The only drawback was ‘leaking’ facemasks so they cleverly used a bit more vaseline to seal the face ... Read Full Story
|
|
|
Quicksilver’s Day at the Tolga Races
Around 60 tourism staff and agents from Cairns to Port Douglas joined us for a wonderful day in the country at Quicksilver’s Tolga Race Day. The small country town track on the Cairns Highlands was the scene for fashion, fillies and fun on Saturday 15 November ... Read Full Story
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
CREW IN THE ZOO ...
We’re pleased to welcome Shanon Foggin to the Quicksilver Sales team as our new Sales Manager for the Cairns market. Shanon has taken over from Lisa Skaines who is now enjoying a new career as a mum! Shanon can be contacted at shanonf@quicksilvergroup.com.au |
|
|
|
 |
 |
Postcard to the Quicksilver
I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks and congratulations to you and the crew aboard Quicky 8 for the wonderful experience that I had on our Quicksilver Day Tour to the Agincourt Reef. I have dived along the West Coast for years, however I have never been part of a tour before and to say that the crew and staff were just sensational is an understatement.
Quality customer service, that nothing was ‘too hard’ approach taken by anyone I needed to speak with, the courtesy, the happy smiling way that the crew went about their duties, and what impressed me most of all is the support that they gave to each other and assisted each other in the various duties and responsibilities.
Your success can be attributed to the teamwork and friendly attitude of all of your people and this was even further evident when they lined up outside the vessel gangways to wish us well in our departure
So may I say well done and thanks for the opportunity. You should be very proud of your people.
P Kimber
Western Australia
|
|  | |  |
 |
How do Fish smell and taste? (this has nothing to do with a BBQ!)
For a start fish have no tongues (where human tastebuds are found), most species have chemoreceptors which function as tastebuds on their faces and on other parts of their bodies. For example Goatfishes have chemoreceptors concentrated in the whisker-like barbels which project from their chins and which they use to probe the sand and mud for prey. ... Read Full Story |
 |
| | |  |
 |
Fuels Surcharge: We’re pleased to advise that with the decrease in world oil prices, the fuel surcharge on our Quicksilver Outer Reef, Great Adventures and Silver Series products will be discontinued, effective 1 December. While we will reserve the right to reintroduce a fuel surcharge, this would be done in accordance with our established practices.
|
|
 |
New Quicksilver Cruises Website: Our new Quicksilver Cruises website has been launched. We hope you’ll find it user friendly and full of interesting product information about our Outer Reef and Low Isles cruises, news and environmental information. Happy surfing! » www.quicksilver-cruises.com
|
|
 |
“Crocs” enjoy a day on Low Isles: The clear refreshing waters of Low Isles recently greeted 99 riders from around the globe following completion of the annual “Crocodile Trophy Race”, regarded as the world’s hardest, longest, hottest and most adventurous mountain touring bike race. After a gruelling 1200km mountain bike ride which took the competitors through the North Queensland outback, the Great Barrier Reef island of Low Isles was a wonderful reward ... Read Full Story
|
|
 |
Biodiesel fuel: With our commitment to environmentally sustainable tourism, bio-diesel trials on our coach fleet and Green Island operations are currently underway with the goal of further reducing our carbon footprint.
|
|
 |
Seen on Green: The hosts of ABC Television’s travel show “Oz Travel”, Tim Doyle and Tim Charody recently enjoyed a visit to Green Island Resort. Arriving by seaplane, the “Two Tims” are two mates who share a passion for travel and adventure. While on Green Island they were thrilled to experience the underwater world of the Great Barrier Reef with a Seawalker helmet dive.
|
|
|
| | | |
| |
For further information, or to subscibe or unsubscibe please visit the Official Quicksilver Group Website:
|
|
| |
|
