Helen Nash, Tree Top Walk

Helen Nash Tree Top Walk

Helen has worked as a visitor services assistant at the Tree Top Walk for fourteen years and during this time has helped visitors to connect with the forest and natural environment in a magical and informative way. Helen is recognised as a leader in the specialised field of tour guiding and demonstrates the quintessential skills that make an effective guide. With her past teaching experience and natural affinity with nature, visitors connect with Helen in an unsurpassed way. Helen provides a journey of discovery for all visitors to the Tree Top Way creating a lasting and memorable experience.

When I was honoured with becoming the 2011 FACET Golden Guide last November, my pride and exhilaration was especially deep felt knowing that my nomination came from fellow guides and management at the Tree Top Walk all of whom were equally deserving. Such is the inspiration that comes from working in this wondrous and rare Valley of the Giants forest environment.

Helen Nash

I personally have had the privilege of working for 14 years at this unique venue, having started there just a year after it first opened. I had not envisaged becoming a tourist guide. For 22 years I had been a Primary School Teacher, teaching on three continents- Europe, America and Australia- as well as bringing up two daughters. In 1991 I migrated to Australia. I had visited as an exchange teacher in 1987, fell in love with the country and especially Western Australia and wished that I had lived here all my life!! I settled in Fremantle then moved to Margaret River and finally my partner and I bought a small farm in Denmark where we planted WA native flowers. The surrounding area was inspiring and I learnt what I could about the flora, fauna and history of the area as well as coming into contact with animals I had only seen in books like the dingo, chuditch, honey possum, emu, tiger snake and the ever present kangaroo!! When the position at the Tree Top was advertised I thought what an amazing environment it would be to work in and that my love of the natural environment might be a positive attribute for working there. Of course the surroundings with the giant tingle trees and the spectacular coast nearby did inspire me and I have spent 14 years sharing my passion with the hundreds of visitors each year.

My love of educating children has allowed me to create what I hope are fascinating experiences for them in the forest and nearby Marine Park which are fun, educational and very “hands on”. Children are the future custodians of our natural environment and it is important to develop a sense of wonder in them at an early age so hopefully, they will begin a life long journey of loving, appreciating and respecting their natural surroundings. I also believe in the well worn adage that if the children are happy so also will the parents be happy!!!

Helen Nash

Coming from another country – the small Principality of Wales – I feel the sense of wonder and interest overseas visitors have when they come to Australia. Most are fascinated by our land of fire and flood, Aboriginal culture and unique plants and animals and they enjoy stories about these. I believe that the telling of stories is essential for making tours memorable. Visitors enjoy the human contact with a guide, however brief, and feel that they have had a personalised experience. I have learnt myself when travelling that a good guide can change ones travel experience. I have to say that when I go back to Europe (which I do every two years to see my daughters and grandchildren) and visit tourist sites, I cannot help comparing them to similar sites in WA and the guiding experiences offered. Western Australia wins out every time!! It is a credit to FACET that it highlights the importance of the guide to the tourism industry.

Since I won the Award I have been asked to share my guiding experiences with other local tourist sites like Whale World in Albany as well as being a mentor for new guides at the Tree Top Walk. I have also received a huge quantity of mail congratulating me!!! I have had articles written about me and the Award in local newspapers and in DEC newsletters. As to the future- I hope to be guiding for many years yet and when I eventually retire from the Tree Top Walk maybe I’ll buy that 4WD tourist vehicle!!

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