FUN and laughter always
followed Colleen Broadley
(née Gannon), who died
last week following a severe
stroke in August.
Colleen was known to
the trade for her years at
Beachcomber Tours, which
she joined in a marketing
capacity in 1991. She
initiated a travel trade
newsletter at Beachcomber,
Travelbeat, which she
continued to produce after
her retirement, and was still
doing so until shortly before
her death.
Colleen’s association with
the travel industry began
in the late ’60s when she
worked for public relations
practitioner, Nancy Campbell,
who represented both the
Hong Kong and Seychelles
tourism authorities. With
her communication skills,
Colleen later joined Da Gama
Publishers (subsequently
taken over by TFC Tours),
working on publications
for the travel trade called
Travelgram and Travel Times.
She was a regular on the
industry social scene, and
thrived on being at the heart
of news and events.
Colleen had a passion for
Mauritius and spent many
holidays there with her
husband, John, who died a
year ago.
Joanne Visagie,
Beachcomber Tours’ sales
and marketing manager, said:
“We will miss her terribly and
have very many fond stories,
laughs and experiences that
will keep us smiling about
her for years to come. She
will always be remembered
very fondly as the stylish
Colleen Broadley, with brilliant
humour, generosity, friendship
and flair.”
TNW’s publisher, Kate
Nathan, said: “Colleen will
be missed. She was a true
friend of TNW, and while she
was full of fun and loved a
party, she was deadly serious
about her work and a fount of
knowledge about the Indian
Ocean islands.”
Long-time friend and former
member of the travel trade,
Jill Hammond, paid tribute
to Colleen with this poignant
but apt farewell: “No more
dancing on the tables.”
