It was lights, camera, action in Kaniva as filmmaker Chris Hilder of Cholly Media visited Kaniva to produce short film clips for the Kaniva and District Progress Association (KDPA). With the closure of Out and About tourism magazine, KDPA sought fresh ways to highlight Kaniva’s attractions and tourism operators. Collaborating with KDPA’s Helen Hobbs, Chris came up with an innovative concept to expand their “Eat, Stay, Play” campaign.
The project involved multiple phone calls and trips to Kaniva, capturing interviews with local tourism operators and overlay footage. These mini films, currently being edited by Chris, spotlight why business operators have chosen Kaniva. Three of the clips are now available on Facebook, YouTube, and the Kaniva website, www.kaniva.org with more videos to come. The success of this initiative is due to the many locals who volunteered to be interviewed on camera.
Many thanks to Travellers Inn Kaniva Manager – Michael Antunovicc, Kaniva Post Office Proprietor – Katrina Smith, Commercial Hotel Proprietor – Bob Cane, Sheep Art Trail Creator – Sharon Merrett and Kaniva Puppet Shop Proprietor – Julie Finch, Club Hotel Proprietors Steve and Michelle Martin.
This financial year, the Kaniva Facebook page reached over 159,000 people last year, with 25,000 visitors to the website, and it is hoped that the video clips will continue to grow awareness to a Melbourne and Adelaide audience, further building new regular customers travelling the Western Highway. Chris will return to Kaniva soon to complete filming, once the windmill and tree lighting has been installed.
This initiative highlights the vibrant business community working together to spotlight Kaniva. Kaniva District Progress Association thanks West Wimmera Shire Council for their funding allocation which has partially been used for this promotion, as part of KDPA’s statement of purpose ‘to further the success of tourism and business’. Further, the town has recently been featured on the Visit Victoria website as a destination.
This article appeared in the Nhill Free Press & Kaniva Times, 31 July 2024.
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