Profile
MissionStatement
“To provide ongoing support to the tourism industry and business community and to foster professionalism with a focus on excellence in product and customer service and to provide entertainment for the community whilst stimulating it’s economy”.
Trish Forrest:-
An experienced business professional with skills encompassing small business management, finance, customer relations, human resources and a working knowledge of successful tourism business. A highly motivated, genuine achiever offering results in a team environment. Particularly strong in all areas of communication displaying an aptitude for writing successful submissions and co-ordinating varying community groups. A very diverse range of personal skills ranging from livestock handling to floristry to festival co-ordination and budgeting.
Primary Function of the Business:-
Trish Forrest Communications provides administrative and marketing support for Rosstulla Holdings. Apart from selling “Cashflow Manager”– a simple accounting software package and offering on the job training services, the business has retained a handful of tourism marketing clients. All other projects are taken on the basis of availability of time and resources.
Personal Philosophies:-
- A firm belief that honesty and integrity should and will prevail
- Success begins at home
- A very high regard for professional standards
- Nothing is too difficult – there is always a better way!
- A firm commitment to excellence in customer service
- A positive approach is an essential ingredient to success – always try to look for the challenge in adverse situations
- Success stems from belief – you will be as successful as you believe you can be
- Presentation is more than 70% - first impressions count!
Personal Ambition:-
- To find a balance between running a successful family and home life and professional success
- To maintain performance without the loss of dignity and integrity
- To continue to achieve at least one major personal goal every year
- To reach the highest achievable level of success while maintaining professional standards
- To make a difference!
History
Following several years in an administrative role at the infamous Beechworth Bakery during which time the business became recognised as a major tourist destination, Trish Forrest moved into private practice and established ‘Trish Forrest Tourism’ on 1st April, 1996. Twenty seven months later she changed the name of the business to ‘Trish Forrest Communications’ to reflect the change in direction of the business and took on a silent partner.
For several years the business operated out of an office building in High Street, Beechworth until November 2001 when the office at Rosstulla became home base. This move has reflected further change in the direction of the business and suits the style and working habits of the principal.
In 2008 the business continues to evolve, whilst a conscious decision has been made not to expand beyond the current ‘one man band’ status for the next few years until the children have been educated.
Career Highlights
- Co-author of winning submissions in the 1994 and 1995 Victorian Tourism Awards
- Co-author of submission resulting in final placement in the 1994 Telecom & Victorian Government Small Business Awards
- Motherhood - family and home life remain extremely important
- Being invited as a guest speaker on submission writing at Tourism Victoria Seminars both in 1995 and 1996; and having the 1994 and 1995 submissions used as training documents by Tourism Victoria
- Being part of the team that created 'Australia's Greatest Bakery'
- Introducing many new initiatives to the 1996 and 1997 Golden Horseshoes Festival and the 1996 Drive Back in Time Festival
- Turning the finances around at The Beechworth Community Childcare Centre leaving the Centre operating with healthy reserves, upgraded facilities and a viable future
- Prepare a Business Plan to remove the Wangaratta Rovers Football Club from financial difficulties
- Establishing Hovell Tree Park in Albury as an events venue whilst co-ordinating the 1997 Australia Fair, Australia Day Ambassador's Dinner, Citizen of the Year and Young Citizen of the Year Awards for the City of Albury
- Co-ordinating Bonegilla '97 - 50th Anniversary Reunion Festival, a regional event with a national focus which received the 1998 City of Wodonga's Australia Day Award for Most Outstanding Community Event
- Co-ordinating Bryce Courtney's visit to Beechworth and the public launch of 'Jessica'
- Establishing the Xypex Australia BPW Beechworth Woman of the Year and Young Career Woman's Awards and co-ordinating both programs including the awards dinner in 1998 and 1999
- Facilitating the Buffalo Breeders & Growers National Conference in 1999
- Co-ordinating the 1999 Business & Professional Women's Victorian Conference including the State Awards dinner at which local, state, federal and international presidents of the organisation were present
- Facilitating a major restructure in a leading interstate transport company including implementation of a quality assurance program
- Being part of the team that created 'Australia's Finest Sweet Shop'
- Member of the Indigo Shire Council's working party established to investigate the implications of the introduction of gaming machines into the shire resulting in a policy of 'No Pokies'
- Member of the Indigo Shire Council's steering committee which manages the Historic Towns Cultural Precinct in Beechworth
- Writing operations manuals for a new franchise business being established
- Author of Award Winning Submissions for the 2005 & 2006 Regional Celebrating Business & Tourism Business Excellence Awards.
- Creating the new series of generic retail commercials for Beechworth including work on creative brief, scripting and production work.
- Writing successful application for $7,000 grant through Regional Development Victoria for 2007 Beechworth Harvest Celebration.
- Writing Business Plan and successful application for $10,000 grant through Provincial events program for 2007 Beechworth Celtic Festival, delivering the event and undertaking follow up market research.