BAY Island Lifestyle co-owner Karen Robertson was left shaking with excitement after her Redlands Coast business was announced as the national winner for Excellence in Accessible Tourism.
The Cleveland-based operator took out Gold at the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards in Fremantle, Western Australia, placing the Redlands Coast tourism experience among the best in the country.
But Ms Robertson said that when the winner was called, she initially struggled to believe it.
“I just sat there going, ‘Oh my gosh, it’s me’, ” she said.
“When they called out the bronze I thought I’d be happy with that.
“Then the silver, and I thought I’d be more than happy with that too.
“Then they said Bay Island Lifestyle and I just sat there thinking it can’t be us.
“But then I got up and I was just over the moon, shaking. It was just so incredible. I’m so proud.”
The award recognises Bay Island Lifestyle’s work creating inclusive water-based experiences on Moreton Bay, allowing people of all ages and abilities to safely enjoy the water.
Ms Robertson said the heart of the business was about dignity and inclusion.
“We care and we do it from the heart,” she said.
“We’ve got some wonderful equipment, but we also make people feel normal and give them dignity.”
She said some of the most rewarding moments came from seeing participants experience the water in ways they never thought possible.
“I took a severely autistic boy out on the water on one of our quad bikes, which are really stable,” she said.
“You pedal them as well, so he was exercising while he was out there.
“That was the longest he’d ever sat in one place in his life, and he was 14. His mum was very emotional.”
Bay Island Lifestyle uses specialised equipment including water wheelchairs, sand wheelchairs, wheelchair access mats and stable kayaks designed for easy transfers.
“Accessible tourism means we’ve got watercraft that can help anybody get on the water, no matter their age, size or ability,” Ms Robertson said.
“Our kayaks have high seats which makes it easier to transfer people from wheelchairs, and they can pedal or paddle.
“People often say to me, ‘Karen, I feel normal’, which is lovely.”
Ms Robertson said the national recognition was also a major moment for the Redlands Coast.
“It’s so important,” she said.
“Even for people in Brisbane to actually know where the Redlands are.
“This will help promote the city even more for everybody.”
She hopes the award will help the business expand its reach and connect with more disability groups and NDIS providers.
“Now we’ve proved ourselves and won this for the Redlands, I’m hoping we’ll get more support,” she said.
“I want to promote what we do even more and go to connection days with disability groups and NDIS providers and say, ‘Hey, this is what we’ve got’, ”
Participants on the tours often leave with memorable wildlife encounters as well.
“We’ve had dugongs in the Bay, dolphins come and say hello, and turtles pop their heads up and have a look,” Ms Robertson said.
“People say they feel part of the Bay Island family.”
Ms Robertson said the award was also recognition for the wider Redlands Coast community that had supported the business from its early days.
“This isn’t just our award – it belongs to our Bay Island community, our supporters and the people who believed in what we’re building,” she said.
“Being on the water is our happy place, and creating aqua accessibility means we can share that joy with every ability.”
