Glenorchy mayor talks up Top Tourism Town nod despite the naysayers

“Glenorchy can be world class – we just have to want it to be. Believe me, I live there,” says its mayor, who has a strong message to those pooh-poohing its bid to be named Top Tourism Town.

The Glenorchy municipality is home to many offerings, including Mona, MyState Bank Arena (home of the Tasmania JackJumpers) and Brewlab.

“Nothing world class about Glenorchy. Believe me, I live there.”

That, unfortunately, was a Glenorchy resident’s social media response to the news that Glenorchy is in the running to be recognised as one of Tasmania’s top tourism towns.

Perhaps it’s not surprising that, as Mayor of Glenorchy, not only do I vehemently disagree with this person, I actually find it astounding that some people’s default setting in this day and age is to sit back and slag off.

If it was an award for self-criticism, self-doubt and self-inflicted doom, I’m sure Glenorchy would have it in the bag – and nothing could make me sadder.

The fact that Glenorchy is home to Mona – undoubtedly world class and among Tasmania’s top tourist destinations – seems far too easily shrugged off by people who seem to think it’s preferable to focus on and highlight negativity than dare to even imagine that something positive could be happening in their own back yard.

Glenorchy Mayor Bec Thomas. Picture: Linda Higginson

Yes, like many modern municipalities, Glenorchy has its issues. But how are we ever going to overcome them if all we can do is let ourselves be defined by them? How will we ever do better as a community when all we can do is look for every single reason not to try in the first place?

It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. And that is a tragedy.

I want Glenorchy to be a place where we have a vision of achievement, of shared-accomplishment, where can-do is valued so much more than can’t-be-bothered.

The rest of the world doesn’t owe us a living. No one else is going to come along and make it happen for us. So we can choose to be a part of something optimistic, or sit on the sidelines with droopy bottom lips and grump at everything someone else does to try and make the place better for everybody.

Thankfully, there are plenty of passionate and proud people in our city. I had the pleasure of meeting some of them at the Glenorchy City Council’s Community and Volunteer Awards last week, where we recognised individuals and organisations who are driven by making our community just that bit better.

For those people, nothing is too hard. Making a difference is what defines them. Getting stuck in and having a go is motivation in itself.

It’s that spirit we need to empower and enshrine – and I challenge those people who like to think that Glenorchy has no right to be better – to get involved. If they don’t like what they see, do something about changing it – volunteer, join a community organisation, put as much time into making a difference as whingeing about what others do.

It’s not just about being a top tourism town; it’s about being a place people want to be, not just to visit, but to live in and thrive.

“Glenorchy can be world class – we just have to want it to be. Believe me, I live there.”

Bec Thomas is the Mayor of Glenorchy