Well-known travel industry personality dies in boating accident
One of the travel industry’s most engaging, memorable and talented personalities, Wayne Tregaskis, has died following a boating accident in Sydney.
A former print, radio and television journalist, Tregaskis served as director of communications at Qantas before joining major Australian advertising agency George Patterson Bates to run the company’s travel and tourism portfolio in Melbourne and Sydney.
Tregaskis co-founded worldnomads.com in 2002 and joined HotHouse Interactive, the internet production group, before going on to found and run his own Sydney-based public relations and marketing business S2i Communications, which specialises in the travel, aviation and tourism sectors. The company has worked with clients ranging from Harvey World Travel, Sabre Pacific and Zuji to Air Austral and non-travel names such as the Sisters of St Joseph and The Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia. Business at S2i Communications will continue as usual.
Long-time friend of Tregaskis Richard Osborn (pictured standing on left of Tregaskis in the photo against the Qantas tail in the 1990s) told Australian publication Campaign Brief: “He lived the life that most only read about. It was Wayne’s world – he lived the dream.”
Known for his ready smile and sense of humour, as well as his love of boats and fast cars, Tregaskis was also an astute businessman who somehow also found a generous amount of time to devote to charitable causes. He was involved with the children’s charity Best of the Best. A company he co-founded, worldnomads.com, went on to set up The Footprints Network, which has raised over AUD650,000, from over 225,000 donations, funding 37 projects across the globe through partner organisations such as Oxfam, Save the Children and Water Aid.
Friends and colleagues are advised that a “Celebration of Life” Service for Wayne Tregaskis will be held this Thursday 19 January at 3pm at the Dalton Chapel, St Ignatius’ College, Riverview, near Lane Cove in Sydney’s lower North Shore.
His widow, Jenny Lourey (also a well-known travel industry figure) encourages those wishing to make a contribution to perform a random act of kindness on Wayne’s behalf.
Written by Peter Needham
What a sad loss. Will always remember our days in radio and tv in Adelaide and then the great association we had during the 80s and 90′s when Wayne was at Qantas and I was doing radio news and travel in Perth where I also knew Jenny Lourey when she worked with Qantas.
You were an absolute legend mate and we’ll all miss you greatly.
Deepest sympathy to Jenny.
Murray, Ampaipat and Tan Dickson
Chiang Mai
THAILAND.
What a sad and terrible loss. Deepest sympathies to Jenny.
WE both remember the good times at 5AD Adelaide..a terrible loss