CQU Associate Professor Gayle Jennings spoke recently at the Inaugural Queensland Local Government Heritage Services Conference in Rockhampton, focusing on heritage tourism, particularly the important role that heritage plays in the marketing and development of tourism in Australia.

\\\\\\\"Heritage tourism provides an avenue for local level entrepreneurial activity by drawing on heritage resource bases. However, such entrepreneurial activities are not without their challenges especially in regard to maintaining heritage values,\\\\\\\" Gayle said.

Gayle\\\\\\\'s second role was to act as a raconteur and to incorporate in her presentation elements from previous speakers as well as to give a summation of major themes in all the presentations.

Zoe Scott, Museum Development Officer Central Queensland thanked Gayle for her solid and knowledgeable presentation.

\\\\\\\"I really enjoyed it and the information it contained. A great summary as usual,\\\\\\\" said Ms Scott.

The keynote address, given by Margaret Cook, Deputy Chairperson, Queensland Heritage Council, highlighted the need for local government authorities and the Queensland Heritage Council to work together in order to keep our heritage.

Conference delegates came from Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia and other locations. The conference was sponsored by Queensland Government, Environmental Protection Agency, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Museum Australia, QLD, Rockhampton City Council, Museum Resource Centre. The conference was also supported by Zetta Florence Archival, Central Queensland University and Carlton and United Beverages.

Photo: CQU\\\'s Gayle Jennings with Rockhampton Councillor Rose Swadling and conference attendees Bruce Lentell and Elizabeth Gunthorte, Rockhampton City Council