Thank you for visiting our Testimonial Page

Rod Johnston: xxxx 61 1300 30 70 54 Phone/Fax or 0429 177 532. (info@frenchislandecotours.com.au)

Hi everybody, these are a small selection of the many thankyou’s I have received over the years.

Thank you to all who have taken the time to say thanks. Best Regards ….. Rod

2006

“I am writing to say thank you so much for a fabulous trip around French
Island yesterday., we couldn't believe how close up we got to the koala with her baby
 on her back - just amazing! The food at the farm for our lunch was just yummy - so nice to
experience real home cooked food of great quality.
 
What really made our day, though, was you ROD!. You passion and energy for your role and 
for French Island is to be admired and you made the whole experience fun and enjoyable. 
Keep up the great work, but please don't tell too many people about French Island it is such a special
place!”
 
Lindsay Tighe, Inspirational Coaching PTY LTD, lindsay@icoachu.com.au

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Jan 2007:

1. “Our holiday was wonderful... the sunset we saw was certianly the most spectacular we've seen. 
From: kamanatides@slatergordon.com.au

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2. Hi Rod
We had a terrific time at your lodge. I think it was the best weekend away, I have had in years.
 The music night and the food was awesome and everyone seemed to feel at ease with everyone else. 
You were a terrific host all through. Looking forward to coming over to the Lodge again. 
 
Regards, Amit Tikoo
Email: Amit.Tikoo@nab.com.au

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3. 5/5/2007

Dear Rod

We just wanted to thank you for a great weekend. Susie and I had a great time and so too did our friends

. You have a great thing going there. All the best

David and Susie Utting (The Beth Peterson Group)

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Dear Rod 5/10/2007
Thanks so much for your wonderful hospitalitality in this very beautiful place!.
We will tell all our friends! We love the isolation, the animals, the relaxed atmosphere you create,
And the love you have for the environment. What you do is so important!!
Best Wishes Rachel, Mark & Dillion

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Hello, Rod,
It sounds like my colleagues, Cleo and Andy (UK Ocean Birdo’s), had a great, short stay on French Island.
Thanks for taking good care of them. And I look forward to getting back sometime.
 
Regards, Burr Heneman
Commonwealth Ocean Policy Program
35 Horseshoe Hill, Bolinas, California 94924, USA, +1-415-868-1460, burr@igc.org

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Nov 2007

Hi Rod,

Thanks for all your hospitality over the week at French Island-the team had an amazing time

& absolutely loved the accommodation-they felt 'privileged' to stay there in fact.

I have sent this invoice onto our National Office accounts department for payment ASAP.

Cheers, Laura Pomorin, Project Co-ordinator

Conservation Volunteers Australia, 162 - 164 Adderley St, West Melbourne 3003

Phone: (03) 9326 8250, Fax: (03) 9326 8239, www.conservationvolunteers.com

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Hi Rod 30/11/2007

Thank you very much for the wonderful tour of French Island yesterday.

Everyone enjoyed it so much it will certainly rate as a highlight of our

year. We will definitely recommend the Eco Tour to other groups.

We appreciated your knowledge of the island and the way it was presented so

we were not overwhelmed. For a group such as ours the balance was just

right, and there were lots of opportunities to learn about life on the island

(animal and human!), both past and present.

The food lived up to its reputation and was greatly enjoyed.

The only sad part of our day was having to leave French Island.

Kind regards, Jo Jenkinson, Committee Member, Emerald University of the Third Age

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Dec 2008 
Hi Rod & Sussan:
 
We would like to thank you for an amazing weekend , We the oldies enjoyed
every minute of the trip, but the young generation enjoyed every minute
even before we departed to the island with the expectations of the mystery
night , the secret of who they were in the play and how would they
prepare themselves for the character they were given . The place was
perfect, with the views that invite you to reflect about how busy our lives
have become, and the peace, that we felt, the opportunity for the oldies to
play again with the young, and feel young again. And the encounter with
nature, with the Koalas that think they are monkeys, see it to believe it.
 
To Sussan , thank you for the beautiful meals, you conversation and your
care, Hope you and Rod will continue with this magnificent project, of
entertainment, just amazing!
Thanks Again 
Carlos and Elly Lopez
PS We are attaching some photos.Will send some more later

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Jan 2009

Hello Rod,

Just a little e-mail to wish you a " HAPPY NEW YEAR".

All the bests to you and Suzanne.

Hope everything goes ok for you, and that the tour and the lodge are working well.

Did you had time to take a nap ? We came back to Sydney one week ago.

Thank you very much for these two days in your company, and in this wonderfull island :)

We hope to come again soon !

Cheers, Mayà & François, the koala. "maya massala" mayamassala@gmail.com

March 2009 Hi Rod
Many thanks to you and Suzanne for the hospitality over the weekend. It was
a great break and very relaxing and felt more like staying with friends than
a commercial operation (that IS a compliment, in case you're wondering).
And again, my thanks to Suzanne especially for doing so much to ensure that
I could eat!
I hope your venture continues to go from strength to strength.
Many thanks to you both. Cheers Fiona, fiona.douglas@octa4.net.au

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March 2009

Hi Rod & Suzanne

Thank you so much for a wonderful relaxing weekend.

You opened up your home with warmth to us and made us feel very much at home

as I am sure you do with all your guests.

Hope to catch up with you again, until then I will carry fond memories with me.

Sue G.

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Hi Rod, March 2009
I arrived home safely after a fantastic trip. I saw lots more koalas but none as
active as those on French Island. Everyone I met who had been to Phillip Is to see
the penguins hated it because of the crowds and their behaviour towards the
penguins. None of them had heard of French Is and they were amazed to hear about the
shearwaters. And I'm still laughing about the murder mystery which was such fun.
 
Thanks for a lovely time on French Island - Australia's best kept secret.
 
Best wishes
Julie Pratt UK

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Sandy Milne’s 50 th birthday 4/4/09
Hi Rod and Suzanne,
In the muddle of packing and so on this morning I rechecked all my sums as 
I had too many interruptions this morning, and transferred money today.
 
Thanks so much again - many stories this morning about how much people 
enjoyed themselves, the atmosphere of the place, your hospitality and the 
food. A few agreed that you complement each other well.
Mike was raving about the apple pie and a few also about that butter 
sponge!.. and the fish was beautiful, perfectly cooked, not to mention the 
views, and all the rest. I had a great time and knowing everyone else did 
too made it so much nicer.
I am sure you will see some of us again before too much longer ( hopefully 
not as hectic next time).
best wishes,
Sandy and Steve. 5983 8873

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Dear Rod & Suzanne, 31 May 2009

Thank you both very much for for what has been one of the best weekends we have had

for a very long time,

It started from the moment that we stepped of the boat and was meet by Rod (and

Eddie) at the wharf for our transfer to our accommodation upon where we meet Suzanne

who had morning tea waiting for us in front of the open fire, a brief chat and a hot

cuppa we were off touring with Rod and the other guests, this was only a very small

part of what Rod had installed for us, Upon our return to the Lodge we were greeted

by Suzanne who informed us that lunch wasn't to far away, and what a lunch it was,

all home cooked by Suzanne herself while we were out exploring, after the pumpkin

soup which nearly rivaled my wife's we were treated to a choice of two hot dishes

with a fresh garden salad, and if all that wasn't enough Suzanne then bought out a

freshly baked and still warm cake for desert washed, down with another cuppa tea and

now we were expected to head off for a full afternoon of touring with Rod.

As we made our way around the rest of the island with Rods very comprehensive,

informative and most of all interesting commentary to eventually return back to the

Lodge which was our accommodation for the night.

Once again whilst we were out touring Suzanne was preparing our evening meal (as if

we needed any thing after our lunch)

As we were about to sit down to our meal we asked Rod and Suzanne to join us, we

were very great full that they did and as we made our way through the four courses

that Suzanne had cooked her self, we exchanged both stories and much laughter

between our selves and both Rod and Suzanne,

Eventually the night had to come to an end but I must say it was one of the most

pleasant nights we have had for a long time.

The next morning we were treated to a most pleasant morning of sunshine and minimum

wind which enabled us to enjoy our breakfast out on our balcony once again to have

the pleasure of Rod and Suzanne joining us, it wasn't very long and the laughter was

flowing again.

The time had come for us to leave the Lodge and the Island and it wasn't as simple

as just saying good bye to the hosts for the weekend because the hosts had become

much more than that they had become "FRIENDS"

Our stay at Tortoise Head Guest House has been one of the most enjoyable and

memorable visits that we can remember for a very long time.

Rod and Suzanne you are both very special people and Thank you for being a part of

our 27th wedding anniversary.

We will be visiting Tortoise Head Guest House again. and we highly recommend Tortise

Head Guest House to any one that may be considering an Island stop over.

Cheers.

Mark and Jillian Fleming

Mark - Melbourne Tour Guide and coach captain (25 years)

Jillian - Director of Nursing

Dear Rod, Oct 09
Thank you so much for the fascinating tour of French Island last Sunday
- it was such a treat! Your stories (and the way you deliver them!)
really brought the island to life. 
 
Ever since returning to Melbourne I have been regaling every single
person I happen across with tales about French Island and about your
wonderful tour.
 
Thank you again for a delightful afternoon. I will remember it (and
French Island!) always.
All the very best,
 
Astrid Britt Krautschneider. Curator, Collections and Research
GRAINGER MUSEUM The University of Melbourne Telephone: +61 3 8344 5270

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