Local icon is going green

Echuca Moama Tourism chief executive Kathryn Mackenzie hoped the signature image would also represent a greener future for businesses and events in the region.

With the upcoming Riverboats event offering 50 cents off the cost of a coffee if patrons bring a reusable cup, Ms Mackenzie said it’s a showing of environmental conciousness.

‘‘Greening this well-credentialled event is a real leadership role for Echuca-Moama,’’ she said.

‘‘But also, it’s a really unique thing Murray River Tea Rooms is doing as an op shop with reusing and recycling — and these cups are another step.’’

Community Living and Respite Services’ Leah McNulty said this was one of many fruitful partnerships for the organisation.

‘‘It shows the value of community partnerships and the initiative carries more weight because we’re working together on something like this,’’ she said.

‘‘It also forms part of our TAKE2 pledge, we’re a large employer with a lot of staff over a few locations, so we want to be doing the same in our hospitality enterprise (environmentally) as we do elsewhere.

‘‘Extending the partnership with Riverboats is great, we’ve been a community partner for a number of years now and it’s about what they can do to support us and vice-versa.’’

Ms Mackenzie said the cups are just the beginning for tourism opportunities and continue on from the publication of the Echuca Moama Op-Shop brochure.

‘‘We look forward to showcasing the cup to visitors. It’s an exciting adventure and this is the second leg of it,’’ she said.

‘‘It’s these baby steps of organisations and people making small inroads for what we do for the environment.’’

The cups, which are reusable — and recyclable at the end of their lives — are available for purchase for $19.95 at Murray River Tea Rooms, the Echuca Moama Visitor Centre and will be available at Riverboats festival.

The purchase includes a free first coffee at Murray River Tea Rooms on Meninya St, Moama.