Leaders praise visionary’s contribution

Southland business leaders have expressed their condolences after businessman and Burt Munro Challenge stalwart Wayne Affleck died.

Affleck died last Friday. He had been chairman of the Southland Chamber of Commerce, Progress Southland and the Burt Munro organising committee.

He also played a key role in the formation of Venture Southland.

Southland Motorcycle Club president Andy Underhay said he was saddened and shocked by the loss of Affleck.

He had been a member of the club for several years and was an accomplished rider and a key organiser within the club,

Underhay said.

‘‘He will be sorely missed and leave a huge hole behind him with the club and

[the] Burt Munro [Challenge].’’ Wayne Affleck

Underhay knew

Affleck had been battling cancer and everybody thought he was on the home straight and back to his old self again. ‘‘No-one thought this would happen.’’ While Affleck played a huge role with the Burt Munro Challenge, the event would continue on and his role would be filled with sadness, Underhay said.

Venture Southland chief executive Paul Casson said Affleck was a professional businessman, who would say what he thought and was well respected as a leader.

He had vision and worked in many circles on a vast array of projects and initiatives promoting Southland.

In 2001 he was the chairman of Progress Southland (the predecessor to Venture Southland) and is recorded as saying ‘‘We rounded those [14 different organisations] up, burnt the silos and built a regional development agency that was the foundation of what Venture Southland has matured to today’’.

‘‘He held people accountable and would contribute on many initiatives and proposals. Wayne was well respected and will be missed. Our condolences go to his family and friends,’’ Casson said.