Vale: Bill Spurr

Australasian Leisure Management is saddened to learn of the death of Bill Spurr, Chairman of the Adelaide Venue Management Corporation (AVM).

A statement from AVM, operators of the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide Convention Centre, Coopers Stadium and AVMCatering advised “one of South Australia’s most respected and admired public figures, Bill leaves an indelible mark on our State’s tourism, entertainment and business events industries following decades of incredible service. Amongst his many contributions to our State, we were incredibly lucky to benefit from Bill’s leadership as a member of the AVM Board for more than 20 years, including as Chair since 2015.

“Bill was a generous, warm and caring man. He always showed genuine care for people and gave so much of himself to so many causes, perhaps best acknowledged by him being awarded a Centenary Medal in 2001 and appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 2015. At 75 years of age, he is gone far too early.

“We extend our heartfelt condolences to Bill’s wife Helen and family at this sad time as we remember and honour a remarkable South Australian and his extraordinary legacy.”

Writing on LinkedIn, Phil King, General Manager of the Adelaide Entertainment Centre and Coopers Stadium, added a personal note, writing “four years ago when I moved from Sydney to Adelaide to start with AVM, one of the first meetings I had was with Bill. I was so taken back about his genuine desire to get to know me and what I wanted to do in life. He asked about my wife and my children, and from that day on would always ask about them by name, and how were they going. This genuine interest Bill took in me was never lost on, or taken for granted by, me.

“Bill had a amazing sense of humour, and took great delight in getting me to speak to his guests for ‘breaching Covid rules’ when at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre. He would burst into fits of laughter at their reactions, which in turn would make me laugh tremendously.

“Kind, compassionate, caring, interested, just some of the words I would use to describe Bill and my personal interactions with him.”