Noosa has lost one of it’s legends with the recent passing of Carolyn Krueger at the age of 84.
A powerhouse figure, Carolyn moved to Noosa from Melbourne in 1981 and became a founding member of Noosa Tourism, was instrumental in establishing Noosa’s international brand and became a dedicated member, former president and past District Governor of Noosa Rotary clubs.
Carolyn arrived at Peregian Beach with her children and partner and settled in Peregian Beach.
Her son Adam said it was the start of a new life for his mum and stepdad in what was then a sleepy village.
Aged 10 years old Adam enjoyed an idyllic life growing up and establishing lifelong friendships with the small group of kids who lived permanently in the area.
“We had lots of freedom as kids,” he said.
“There was the drive-in theatre where the kids were dropped off, we had the skate bowl, Blue Light Discos and the kids would hang out at Hastings Street on a Friday, Saturday night.”
Carolyn began working in real estate at Peregian Beach.
Having been involved in the printing business in Melbourne she soon moved to Noosa Graphica where she began working as a sales rep before taking over the business.
The only printing business in Noosa at the time, anything that needed printing in Noosa was done at Noosa Graphica.
Soon after buying the business Noosa Graphica moved from Gympie Terrace to the Noosa industrial estate newly created by Noosa Council.
Adam started his apprenticeship with Noosa Graphica as a school student then began working with his mother full time after school in a partnership that continued for 45 years.
Adam said as a graphic artist Carolyn was responsible for the designs of many iconic Noosa logos including the original logo for Noosa International, The Jetty Restaurant and Accom Noosa.
“The feel and design of Noosa was mum,” he said. “Just driving around Noosa you still see the influence of mum’s designs. It moved Noosa from being that sleepy little getaway to being an international destination.”
Carolyn was among a small group who started Tourism Noosa and began marketing the area as a tourist destination in southern states.
“They used to do roadshows down to Sydney and Melbourne, take Hey Bill and Yum Yum down and do displays in shopping centres, saying Come stay in Noosa,” Adam said.
“That’s when we started to see the development of Hastings Street, five star resorts and started to get the international tourists. We saw some big changes in Noosa at that time.”
Adam said his mum would always speak her mind, stand up for what she believed in, traits that weren’t always popular.
“There was that hard side of her but that was the side that drove the passion,” he said.
It was that passion that drove her involvement with the Chamber of Commerce, networking with other like-minded business owners to support the Noosa community.
When the digital revolution changed the face of printing Adam took the reins and Carolyn became more heavily involved in Rotary, retiring from the business in 2010.
She became District Governor of Rotary and the recipient of the Paul Harris Fellowship.
Carolyn was heavily involved in Rotary’s polio eradication and travelled widely working with the program, an initiative close to her heart as own mother had contracted polio when she was young.
Carolyn won recognition for her efforts, work and energy put into making Noosa what it is today, including a Queensland Day award in 2017, presented by then Noosa MP Glen Elmes.
She was also made a Dame of Hutt River Province for her services to Noosa which was presented to her by Western Australian farmer Leonard Casley who in 1970 had declared his farm to be a sovereign state.
Adam said Carolyn sometimes used her Hutt River Province passport, recognised by some non-Commonwealth countries, when checking into hotels during her travels.
Carolyn lived at Peregian Beach in the same house by the water tower for 40 years and passed away in Arcare Noosa.
At her request her ashes are to be scattered on Mt Tinbeerwah.
