Fiji Times - Margaret Wise
Friday, February 12, 2010
Danny Rae Costello Junior comforts a former Beachcomber Island Resort employee who turned up at their residence yesterday.
DICK Smith, who is credited for pioneering tourism in Fiji alongside the late Daniel Costello, was in Vuda yesterday to pay his last respects to the late owner of Beachcomber Island Resort.
The hotelier was accompanied by industry partners which included the head of the Tourism Ministry, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, Y.P. Reddy of the Tanoa Group, Dixon Seeto from the Hexagon Group, Bruce Moonie from Coral Sun, Joe Tuamoto from Tourism Fiji, James Sowane from the Society Of Fiji Travel Associates, and representatives from Pacific Sun and Air Pacific.
The group was received by Daniel Rae Costello, his brother Johnny, sisters Katie, Tara and Marika and members of the Nakelo clan from Vuda -- the traditional landowners of Beach-comber Island.
"Dad was brought back home from Australia free of charge courtesy of Air Pacific and he will be flown to rest in Savusavu free of charge courtesy of Air Wakaya," said eldest son Daniel Rae.
"This is a touching gesture, and on behalf of the Costello family I would like to thank them."
The late Daniel Costello's body will lie in state at the Anchorage Resort in Vuda.
A funeral mass will be held at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Lautoka at 10am today.
He will then be flown via Air Wakaya from Nadi to Savusavu on Saturday for burial at Wina.
Described by many as a pioneer of the tourism industry in Fiji, Costello built Beachcomber Island Resort in the early 1960s and was also the owner of Fiji Meats Ltd.
Daniel Costello was 76 years old when he died. He is survived by his wife Annette, and children Daniel Rae, Vincent, Johnny, Katie, Tara, Marika and Justin.
No comments:
Post a Comment