Stephen Gregg was a giant of the tourism industry and a quiet and humble man who was respected by everyone in the industry.
Having passed away from cancer last September, aged 73, his posthumous Member of the Order of Australia Award (AM), for service to the Queensland Tourist Industry, is bittersweet for a family grieving his loss.
“Steve had no knowledge of the award but he would have been very humble,“ his wife Christine said.
“All his family are very proud of him. We feel it’s very deserved.“
Across the state, Stephen Gregg held senior positions that included chief executive officer of Tourism Queensland, Tourism and Events Queensland, North Queensland Airports and Ardent Leisure, owners of Dreamworld, chair of Queensland Tourism Industry Council and chair of Queensland Rail as well as executive positions in Far North Queensland.
He also found time to help out locally, serving on the board of Tourism Noosa from late 2016.
At the last Queensland Tourism awards in November Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) chair Elsa Dalessio said Stephen had made an enormous contribution to the tourism industry.
“His quiet leadership and thoughtful resolve touched many within our nation’s tourism sector,“ she said.
“The various significant outcomes he achieved for tourism will have a ripple effect that stretches across generations.
“Stephen was a man who made friends easily, and whose counsel was sought regularly.
“His considered, collaborative and ever supportive engagement with our industry will be sadly missed by all of us.”
In 2015 Stephen was awarded Queensland Tourism’s highest accolade, the Marie Watson Blake award for an outstanding contribution by an individual to tourism.
Tourism Tropical North Queensland (TTNQ) chair Ken Chapman described Stephen as a “truly wonderful human being“ and “an inspirational leader“.
“Nobody has held such recognised leadership in Queensland tourism for so long and with such success,“ he said.
“A friend to all, Steve was a quiet and humble man, but all who knew him listened closely for his thoughtful advice, wisdom, innovation and passion.”
To his family Stephen was much more than “a really humble guy … dedicated to tourism“.
“He was such a good husband and father and grandad,“ Christine said.
“We met in 1978. I was with TAA (Trans Australian Airlines) on reservations and holiday travel. He was with AAT (Australian Accommodation and Tours), in the same building. We married in 1983.
“It was such an exciting life together – a wonderful life, a wonderful family.
“’Why wouldn’t you work in an industry based on friendship and hospitality to strangers’ he used to say. That was just Steve.“
His egalitarian approach made him a friend to all.
“Whether he was meeting with ministers or new employees, he was the same person to everyone,“ Christine said.
“He got on so well with the teams. They all had such fun and good times together.“
The family travelled for work and pleasure with lasting memories of hiking trips around the world.
A partnership with Bill King, a pioneer of outback travel, took them on outback ventures and opened up Australia to adventure travel.
Their relationship lasted to the end, with Bill passing away in the same month.
Stephen had a long history with Noosa having surfed here from the ’60s.
The family lived in Brisbane while their daughters attended school, buying a beach shack at Sunshine Beach in 2010, then later building their retirement home on the site.
Stephen is survived by his wife Christine, four daughters and six grandchildren.
Holding back tears Christine said she would probably spend Australia Day with family – “have a quiet day, have a toast and think of Steve“.
