Today, I trade my ticket box and Goldenway uniform for my AALARA name badge and shirt. Greg Yong (AALARA President) has flown in to meet with our WA Members, but we start with a call to QTIC to discuss national collaboration opportunities — important work to make our advocacy stronger together. More to come on this in the New Year.
Then it’s off to visit our Perth Members. First stop, Adventure World — meeting Andrew, Ross, Ben, and one of the park’s owners, David. The park is stunning, calm, and full of stories. We even brave The Abyss — smooth, thrilling, and not nearly as terrifying as I expected (though I still screamed).
Next, we visit Perth’s Outback Splash for a full park tour with Eli, Chloe, and Jake. The team’s energy is infectious, and the history of the park and the team that have grown up here is amazing. Having just launched their new attraction, Lavender Estate the day prior, we didn’t get the chance to catch up with Paul, but we did get the chance to try their new lavender ice cream, made in Margaret River – a must-try if you get the opportunity!
We race back to the Showgrounds with 10 minutes to set up for the AALARA Member Networking Drinks! The turnout is amazing: showmen, regulators, theme park operators — all in one room, sharing stories and laughs.
These moments remind me why AALARA exists — to connect, to listen, and to lift each other up.
I show Greg around the Showgrounds, thinking I’m an expert, and catch up with some of our Members who couldn’t make the Networking function, also giving Greg the insight into how hard this part of our Membership works. He also suggested that unlike me, he would be good at ‘The Luckies’, so watch this space…!
