Tour operator proves a Wild winner

Applause filled Gary Holland Community Centre last Saturday night as Rockingham Wild Encounters was named 2015 Rockingham Kwinana Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year.

Co-director Aaron Heath said 2015 marked the second year of year-round operation for the business after a decade of closing during the cooler months.

Mr Heath said operating all year began as an experiment, but visitor numbers had risen up to 15 per cent last year.

He said the Penguin Island ferry and tour operator was always looking ahead and devising different ideas to keep tourist numbers strong.

"The challenge now is not to increase numbers by a huge amount, but to try to attract different people," he said.

"You can't just rest on your laurels hoping people will continue to come."

Mr Heath said the company had been looking at attracting school groups on excursions to Penguin Island, as well as the potential for Segway tours between Mersey Point and Point Peron.He said he and business partner Terry Howson wanted to ensure the operation and products offered remained of the highest quality.

"Plans for the new jetty at Mersey Point will be fantastic as well," he said.

Rockingham Kwinana Chamber of Commerce chief executive Tony Solin said Rockingham Wild Encounters had a huge tourism and business presence in the region.

For more on the Rockingham Kwinana Chamber of Commerce awards, see pages 22 and 23