TOURISM INDUSTRY ICON AMONG QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY HONOURS IN FNQ
Family of late tourism icon Charles Woodward to celebrate Order of Australia in Queen’s Birthday Honours with a bottle of red
CELEBRATING Charles Woodward becoming a Member of the Order of Australia is bittersweet for the Cairns tourism icon’s family.
Mr Woodward passed away on May 18 last year after a long battle with cancer.
Mr Woodward’s wife, Pip, said it was “wonderful recognition”.
“I’m obviously a bit biased but he is so deserving, he did so much for tourism and the region,” Mrs Woodward said.
“I’m stoked, really. It’s just sad that he’s not here to celebrate with us.”
Mr Woodward was best known as the head of the CaPTA group and its many tourism businesses across the region, including Rainforestation at Kuranda and Cairns ZOOM in the Cairns CBD.
But it was his work to better the lives of Far North Queensland cancer patients that Mrs Woodward said he was most proud of.
“He was not one to not make a noise if he felt something was wrong, and that’s how he founded COUCH,” she said.
“He was so passionate that people shouldn’t have to move to Townsville for cancer treatment.
“I’m very proud that we campaigned for that and made sure it got up and running.
“He didn’t get the recognition at the time, but for the community I think it’s been a case of not knowing what you have until it’s gone.”
Mrs Woodward said she was very proud of her husband’s posthumous recognition.
“Words can’t say how this feels … it means a huge amount,” she said.
“The recognition goes beyond just our family but out to the community.”
She said the family would celebrate Mr Woodward receiving an AM in typical Woodward fashion tonight.
“He liked a good party, so myself and our sons will break out one of his special bottles of red,” she said.
“He’d expect nothing less.”