THANK YOU CARMEL – Good luck and farewell to a Douglas Shire legend

MOVING ON

Michael Warren

Editor

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Much loved local Carmel Angelino is moving on. Picture: Carmel Angelino

One of the Douglas shire’s most respected, loved and familiar faces has finally called stumps after more than two decades of delivering exceptional customer service and professionalism.

Well known local community member Carmel Angelino has retired and will, in the next few days make her way to Townsville, before finally arriving at her new destination – the Sunshine Coast.

For more than 20 years Carmel has owned the management rights at Reflections of Port Douglas, but she says now is the right time for the next chapter of her life.

“I am really going to miss Port Douglas with its laid-back lifestyle and all the beautiful friends I have met along the way but we will meet again one day,” Carmel told Newsport.

“After my 23-year stint I’m looking forward to spending some time with my son, Colin and his partner in Townsville, before heading down to the Sunshine Coast.”

ON HER EARLY DAYS

“I am originally from the Aloomba (Gordonvale area) and the majority of my working days were spent with the National Aust Bank before moving to Mount Isa in 1995 were I was working as an office manager at an electrical company and that is where I met John Jensen, (my Danish partner).

“In 2000, we decided to move closer to my family as some members had health issues and bought the management rights to Reflections in June 2000.

“We ran Reflections together, John as an electrician, doing maintenance and gardening and myself looking after the office and guests, until John’s death in 2015 and have continued on, until the present day.”

ON HER WORK LIFE

“My day-to-day work has involved management of the cleaning and maintenance of the units and staff involved, taking reservations, meeting and greeting guests, making their tour bookings and dinner reservations, marketing the property and liaising with marketers, wholesalers and travel agents.

“As apartments were individually owned I was responsible for running a trust account and reporting each month end to owners, organising and overseeing apartment upgrades, liaising with the body corporate for meetings, repairs and accounts. All that. 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year.”

ON HER COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

“When I arrived in Port Douglas, I firstly became a member of the Mossman Golf Club as it was a great way to meet new friends.

“Ladies Thursday morning golf was followed by very long lunches at Salsa and that continued for a couple of years and gradually turned into ladies lunches for large groups of industry and local ladies and our Melbourne Cup lunches.

“I was involved in SKAL, an international networking group in tourism and was president of the Cairns’ chapter in 2010. In that role I represented the club at various conference’s including travelling to Turkey and Finland for world conferences."

ON HER FAVOURITE MEMORIES

“My favourite memories…dressing as a pirate and pushing a wheelbarrow round Mossman and Port with a couple of friends, to canvass for prizes for the Carnivale beach day treasure hunt.

“Ladies lunches with lots of beautiful people over the years; sitting on four-mile beach having bubbles with friends and guests at the end of the week; the many wonderful friends made, locally and internationally both in and out of the tourism industry.”

Thank you!

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