FACET Timeline

1991

FACET founded by Pat Barblett
Appointment: Pat Barblett was appointed as the first Chair.
Appointment: Pauline McMullen as Executive Secretary

1993

First FACET Newsletter published

1995

Workshop: Tourism Opportunites, New Norcia Monastery
Conference: Value Added Tourism, Fremantle

1996

Conference: Interpretation the Aboriginal Way, Mundaring

1997

Appointments: Four FACET members appointed to the Nature Based Tourism Strategy Steering Committee
Incorporation: FACET became an incorporated body

1998

Launch: Golden Guide Award Conference: Guiding the Experience, Perth

1999

FACET Golden Guide Award became part of the WA Tourism Awards. The inagural winner was Helen Lee of Bush Tucker Tours
Conference: "Full Bottle" The Future Development of Wine Tourism, Swan Valley

2000

Conference: Marine Tourism, Fremantle
Golden Guide Award: Kevin Coate, Landscope Expedition

2001

Conference: Rural and Regional Tourism - Strength through Diversity, Albany
Golden Guide Award: Neil MacLeod, Ningaloo Safari Tours

2002

Conference: WA Tourism - In Touch with a Sustainable Future, Perth
Golden Guide Award: Jeff Hayley, Triple J Tour

2003

Conference: From the Murchison to the Coast - Our Heritage, Our Legacy, Geraldton
Golden Guide Award: Gary Muir, WOW Wilderness Experiences

2004

Appointment: Ross Dowling appointed Chair
Conference: A Sense of Place - Restoring Cultural Identity to Regional Landscapes, Mandurah
Golden Guide Award: Jeremy Perks, Global Gypsies

2005

Partner: CALM (now DBCA) became a partner with FACET
Golden Guide Award: Scott Robertson, Broome Sightseeing Tours

2006

Conference: FACET hosted 2nd Australian Wildlife Conference, Fremantle
Golden Guide Award: Cherie Toovey, Freelance Tour Guide

2007

Conference: Innovative Partnerships - A Great Adventure, Albany
Golden Guide Award: Brad Bayfield, Aussie Off Road Tours

2008

Conference: FACET hosted Global Geotourism Conference, Fremantle
Golden Guide Award: Phil Couthard, Dolphin Discovery Centre

2009

Conference: Outback Experience - Delivering a Unique Experience, Mt Magnet
Golden Guide Award: Paul Sofilas, Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse

2010

Golden Guide Award: Sean Blocksidge, Margaret River Discovery Company

2011

Conference: Rediscover Parks, Yanchep National Park
Golden Guide Award: Helen Nash, Tree Top Walk

2012

Appointment: Claire Savage becomes Chair of FACET
Golden Guide Award: Ryan Mossny, Two Feet and a Heartbeat

2013

Forum: Unlocking the Secrets of Social Media
Workshop: Delivering the Customer Experience & Creating Ambassadors
Golden Guide Award: Dr Dave Bomba, Out of Sight Tours

2014

Conference: Culinary Journeys, Manjimup Forum: Breathing Life into the City Forum: Our ANZAC Heritage - a Foundation for the Future
Workshop: Heritage Tourism
Conference: Creating Connections
Golden Guide Award: Loris Harding, Taste Bud Tours

2015

Workshop: Heritage Means Business
Forum: Ecotourism Development in Australia
Forum: Arts, Culture & Events Driving Tourism
Conference: Geotourism - Tourism Down Under
Golden Guide Award: Brian Lee, Hunters Creek Tagalong Tours

2016

Appointment: Pat Barblett AM became Chair of FACET
Forum: A Foundation for WA Parks – Formation of WA Parks Foundation
Workshop: Understanding & Influencing the Visitor Experience
Conference: Uncovering WA’s Unique Sense of Place
Golden Guide Award: Rusty Creighton, Freelance Guide

2017

Workshop: Instagram for Business
Workshop: Our Heritage - Your Point of Difference
Workshop: The Business of Geotourism & Geoparks - International Workshop in Partnership with Geoparks WA
Conference: Celebrating our Parks, Perth
Golden Guide Award: Janine Della Bosca, Fremantle Prison

2018

Workshop: Role of Hotels in Placemaking
Workshop: Heritage Tourism
Conference: Fresh Thinking - Culinary Tourism, Busselton
Golden Guide Award: Scott Connell, Kimberley Spirit Tours

2019

Appointment: Ryan Mossny becomes chair of FACET
Conference: Astrotourism in partnership with WA Parks Foundation & Geoparks WA
Workshop: Connecting Tourism with Student Internships
Workshop: Capitalising on Western Australia's Unique Floral
AGM & Art Exhibition Tour: “That Seventies Feeling…the Late Modern”
Golden Guide Award: Marielle Sengers, Travel Western Australia

2020

COVID-19 has a devastating impact on tourism industry. WA Tourism Awards cancelled.
FACET Golden Guide Award: no awards in 2020. Online Forum: Our Story - Spirit of Adventure.
Online Forum: Future Tourism Leaders In Destination Planning. Amalgamation: Tour Guides Western Australia & FACET. FACET's 30th Birthday Celebration.
Tracy Shea takes over from Pauline McMullan as Executive Officer.
FACET's Founder, Pat Barblett AM, appointed as FACET Patron.
Pauline McMullen appointed Life Member recognising her 30 years of dedicated service to FACET.

2021

FACET goes digital.
Relaunch of the FACET website.
Online event booking.
Online membership payments.
Workshop: Connecting the Tourism Industry with Local Government