Vale: Stan Durkin

Australian Leisure Management is saddened to report the death of veteran carnival ride operator Stan Durkin, former President of the Australian Amusement, Leisure and Recreation Association (AALARA) and stalwart member of the Showman's Guild Of Australasia at the age of 87.

Involved in the carnival business for more than 60 years, Stan started his career in the 1960s with Durkin Amusements, a ride company that started with just one ferris wheel.

He entered the business succeeding his father, Stan senior who, along with his two brothers Herbie and Frank, performed as The Dare Devil Durkins, three motorcyclists who orbited within centimetres of each other in a six-metre steel sphere known as The Globe of Death at agricultural shows.

Committed to the highest possible standards in the carnival ride industry, Stan was a longstanding member of the Standards Australia Committee ME/51, Amusement Rides and Devices, responsible for the release of the Australian Standard AS 3533.1-1997 Amusement rides and devices in 1997 and its subsequent updates.