Brendan Heenan, 80, awarded at Queen’s Birthday Honours with a Member of the Order of Australia

When Brendan Heenan built from scratch his caravan park in the MacDonnell Ranges in 1983, he never dreamt it would lead to a nearly 40-year-strong career in the Red Centre tourism industry.

WHEN Brendan Heenan built from scratch his caravan park in the MacDonnell Ranges in 1983, he never dreamt it would lead to a nearly 40-year-strong career in the tourism industry.

Mr Heenan, 80, has been awarded a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to the tourism industry in Central Australia, which extends well beyond operating a holiday park.

Brendan Heenan has been awarded a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to the tourism industry in Central Australia. Picture: EMMA MURRAY

Among his contributions, Mr Heenan has been a life member of Tourism Central Australia since 2015, served on the Alice Springs Town Council between 2008-2016, and has been the chair of the NT Caravan Parks Association for 28 years.

“You don’t do these things just to be recognised,” he said.

“You don’t expect anything in return except to meet some fantastic people.”

The destruction of Mr Heenan’s market garden business in the 1974 Alice Springs floods led him and his dad ponder the idea of building a caravan park.

He said the dirt road from Adelaide to Alice Springs that was slowly being sealed and a generous tourism loan incentive from the Paul Everingham government played into his decision to go ahead with the project.

“When they finished sealing the road in 1987, it was just like opening the flood gates,” he said.

Mr Heenan, who spent the weekend volunteering at the Finke, said his work in the tourism industry has never felt much like work.

“This is a fantastic honour for work that you love doing anyway,” he said.

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