Vale: Ian Douglas

Australasian Leisure Management is saddened to report that Ian Douglas, at one time a leading insurance broker to the attractions industry and one of the founders of the Australian Amusement, Leisure and Recreation Association (AALARA) has died at the age of 80.

Ian, an AALARA Life Member, passed away peacefully at Wyong Hospital.

His first foray into the leisure industry was in 1983 when he sold his share of an insurance brokerage in Cowra to build a waterslide complex at Wyangala Dam, a popular tourist spot for camping and water skiing over the summer months.

It was a successful venture which also gave him an understanding of the challenges of seasonal tourism businesses.

With the insurance market becoming difficult between 1985 and 1987, Ian found that his premiums to operate the waterslide had increased by 300% over a two-year period, a challenge that he found other waterslide operators around Australia were also experiencing.

This prompted him to return to the insurance industry to get support for a waterslide scheme. To get the critical mass needed to attract insurers, the scheme was also extended to include amusement ride operators who were also experiencing a difficult time.

In order to attract and keep insurers, the scheme’s performance results had to be good and to do this risk management was critical to the success of the scheme.

In 1988, Ian engaged an amusement industry risk management firm and brought them to Australia for two weeks to tour as much of the country as possible passing on their knowledge and advice to many of his leisure clients.

This was also when the first amusement industry risk management seminar was held at Canberry Fair in Canberra - organised and promoted by Ian and amusement industry icon Des Wittingslow.

The insurance industry was still sceptical about insuring amusement ride operators and waterslides and any change in underwriting philosophy would endanger the scheme.

This led Ian to establish Triton Underwriting as a specialist leisure industry underwriting agency in 1990.

The agency platform allowed multiple insurers to participate in the scheme without being exposed 100% to a major incident, and if one insurer had a change of heart about the scheme it was easier to find an insurer to take on 25% rather than write the program 100%

Ian resumed the risk management seminars in 1991, with the first one held at Kings Cross.

While it was a good conference, the industry was less willing to discuss their problems in those days with many seeing other attendees as competitors.

Ian would have to threaten clients that their insurance may not be renewed if they did not attend!

Returning in 1992 conference at Sea World Nara attendance numbers were very pleasing before, inn 1993 the conference moved to Panthers Leagues Club in Western Sydney which proved to be a less popular destination that the Gold Coast.

As a result, it was decided that the Gold Coast would be the home of the conference. Over the next few years the conference grew in stature and became an event that everyone marked on their calendar.

During the 1994 conference a group of attendees floated the idea of establishing an industry association, a move that gained considerable interest. But while many supported the idea, only a few offered their time to help establish it leading Ian to assign his son Paul to register the association and be the inaugural secretary so that the association did not lose momentum.

A constitution was adopted and the Dreamworld art team created a logo.

The original committee consisted of Paul, Michael Hind, Len Shaw and Tony Lackey and in a short amount of time being an AALARA board member was a coveted position.

As AALARA became more respected and influential, it became clear that the annual conference, where AALARA was created, needed to become the AALARA conference.

In 1996, Ian handed over the conference to AALARA with his son Paul working with the board to ensure a smooth transition.

Ian continued for many years as major sponsor.

He also served on the AALARA board for many years and was one of the first AALARA Life Members.

Ian’s contributions outside of insurance and the leisure/amusement industry were also substantial:

He took part in over 25 Variety Club ‘bashes’ in his signature army vehicles at which he was known by all as ‘The General’.

Raising over $1.5 million for the charity to provide assistance for disadvantaged children, he was inducted into the Variety Club Hall of Fame.

For over 20 years he was the major sponsor of pro-am golf tournaments at Cowra and later Morisset.

Previously unheard of for country golf tournaments, these three-day events w were not only popular for the players, but they were also good opportunities for struggling young golfers to get among the prize money. In 2005, Ian was presented with the Golden tee award for services to golf by the Australian PGA.

After retiring from Insurance, Ian’s hobby was breeding Charolais cattle on his farm at Wyee in NSW. He was quite successful with this as well and won many awards at shows including best bull at a Sydney Royal Show.

Ian packed a lot into his 80 years and achieved much. He will be very much missed by his family and friends.

Ian Douglas 12th November 1942 – 22nd February 2023

Beloved husband of Jenny. Cherished father and father in law of Cameron & Monique, Paul & Corrina, Margot & Paul, Suzanne & Andy. Loving Pop to Nathan, Sam, Molly, Max, Luke, Joe, Hamish, Finn, Tom, Ellie, Tyler, Tate and Dane.

Images: Ian Douglas (top right) with on of his prized bulls and (below left) at a Variety Club charity event.