Story Added:June 2008

Robert (Bob) George Porter (1955-56)
Died: 14th November 2007

Bob, with his family moved to Proserpine when he was eight years of age where he attended St Catherine’s Catholic School. On completing his Primary education he attended Nudgee. Here he excelled at sport and in particular golf. He was the Under 15 and Under 16 champion in that sport in ’55 and ’56 respectively. Those who knew him at Nudgee would have seen evidence of the determination and fighting spirit which characterised all of his life.

After leaving school he became a very qualified gemmologist and he travelled to America and the United Kingdom. After spending some time there, he returned to the Whitsundays where in the mid ‘70s he purchased a 100-year old pearling lugger, ‘Dahlia’, and proceeded to launch the annual Airlie Beach Fun Race. He developed the Whitsunday Village and the Whitsunday Terraces before moving to Brisbane. His interest in the tourism industry continued and he established an online holiday club and sold travel internationally, targeting the seniors’ market.

His interest in sport prompted his support for Sydney Western Suburbs Rugby League Club when it was under pressure to survive and more recently he has been involved with the Brisbane Lions and the Queensland Roar.

He was a great organizer, known for his willingness to lend a hand and to promote imaginative ideas. He is survived by his wife Janne.