'Colleen Watson was respected and admired by the entire industry.'
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The superyacht industry and broader boating community are in mourning after the death of Colleen Watson, the Super Yacht Group - Great Barrier Reef acting manager.
Before her sudden death last week, Colleen was well regarded and had received a host of awards for her commitment and service to the industry. Her death has brought tributes from as far away as Western Australia.
Only last month she received the 2008 chairman's award for excellence from Superyacht Base Australia, the national body.
Super Yacht Group - Great Barrier Reef chairman Ley James worked with Colleen for almost nine years, since she was appointed as a State Government representative to the group.
He said her lasting achievement was getting Federal Government support for a new superyacht crew visa, the so-called 488 visa.
'To the superyacht group, this is a huge loss,' he said.
'Colleen was absolutely instrumental in doing the work for the new visa.'
Steve Oldham, who worked with Colleen at the Cairns Regional Economic Development Corporation, said she had a phenomenal workrate.
'She was admired by everyone she worked with,' he said.
'She was a really genuine person who will be missed.'
by Media Services
3:27 AM Tue 22 Jul 2008 GMT
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