William "Bill" McNamara (Regional Manager Australia)
Sadly Bill passed away on 10th March 2020 at his home in New South Wales, Australia; he had just celebrated his 78th Birthday. My sincere condolences go out to his family, friends and former colleagues. Bill joined BCal in 1979 from Pan Am as Manager Australia and rose to Regional Manager Pacific
Service details
Bill's service was held on Monday 23rd March at Sacred Heart Church, 177 Darlinghurst Road, Darlinghurst, NSW in Australia
Bill's Obituary
Legendary Travel and Airline Industry Star - Bill McNamara by Travel Weekly
The Melbourne kid who rose from abject poverty to enjoy global success
Legendary Australian travel and airline industry multi-million-dollar star revenue generator, William ‘Bill’ McNamara, was found dead by NSW Police, alone in his Sydney eastern suburbs home, on Tuesday 10 March 2020, after celebrating his 78th birthday last weekend.
Born into abject poverty in Melbourne, incarcerated with polio aged six in Melbourne’s Fairfield Infectious Diseases facility , orphaned at 13, Bill’s rapid ascent to success started when he was taken under the wing, nurtured and mentored by multi-national logistics giant, Lindsay Fox.
Generous to all he met, Bill accumulated a legion of friends and colleagues across the world, which he treated as family
Bill never forgot the generosity bestowed on him by the Catholic Brothers who educated him, or his benefactor Lindsay Fox. His only family treasure was a battered photograph of his late mother, which I managed to whisk away, enlarge, frame and then gave him the negatives to ensure her memory lived on.
His teenage Duke of Edinburgh Award remained his pride and joy, before starting his first job, as a sales representative, with Stewart Moffatt Travel in Melbourne.
In 1972, Bill the unstoppable salesman was given his first big chance at Pan Am, by the late Paul Glaser, who gave him free reign to bring in the dollars.
When appointed Regional Sales Manager, for British Caledonian Airways, he dressed a double decker bus in Blue and Gold, loaded it with corporate customers and travel agents and paraded it down the race course in front of the Melbourne Cup crowd - all funded entirely with free contra-deal BCAL tickets. He left BCal in 1987/88 and joined the Hilton Hotel Group.
Bill then increased Hilton Hotel revenue from $80-million to $120 million, before establishing his own travel representation company in 2000.
Service details
Bill's service was held on Monday 23rd March at Sacred Heart Church, 177 Darlinghurst Road, Darlinghurst, NSW in Australia
Bill's Obituary
Legendary Travel and Airline Industry Star - Bill McNamara by Travel Weekly
The Melbourne kid who rose from abject poverty to enjoy global success
Legendary Australian travel and airline industry multi-million-dollar star revenue generator, William ‘Bill’ McNamara, was found dead by NSW Police, alone in his Sydney eastern suburbs home, on Tuesday 10 March 2020, after celebrating his 78th birthday last weekend.
Born into abject poverty in Melbourne, incarcerated with polio aged six in Melbourne’s Fairfield Infectious Diseases facility , orphaned at 13, Bill’s rapid ascent to success started when he was taken under the wing, nurtured and mentored by multi-national logistics giant, Lindsay Fox.
Generous to all he met, Bill accumulated a legion of friends and colleagues across the world, which he treated as family
Bill never forgot the generosity bestowed on him by the Catholic Brothers who educated him, or his benefactor Lindsay Fox. His only family treasure was a battered photograph of his late mother, which I managed to whisk away, enlarge, frame and then gave him the negatives to ensure her memory lived on.
His teenage Duke of Edinburgh Award remained his pride and joy, before starting his first job, as a sales representative, with Stewart Moffatt Travel in Melbourne.
In 1972, Bill the unstoppable salesman was given his first big chance at Pan Am, by the late Paul Glaser, who gave him free reign to bring in the dollars.
When appointed Regional Sales Manager, for British Caledonian Airways, he dressed a double decker bus in Blue and Gold, loaded it with corporate customers and travel agents and paraded it down the race course in front of the Melbourne Cup crowd - all funded entirely with free contra-deal BCAL tickets. He left BCal in 1987/88 and joined the Hilton Hotel Group.
Bill then increased Hilton Hotel revenue from $80-million to $120 million, before establishing his own travel representation company in 2000.
Bill Remembered
From Caron Phillips : RIP and my condolences to his family and friends
From Lynne Le Maitre : How sad. RIP Bill.
From Richard Heywood : Very sad. Bill was a character and a half. RIP
From Peter Popplewell
As Bill’s Sales Manager, in outpost Australia, I wish to add my sincere sadness at his passing.
A Good, and Loyal friend to All who knew him.
From Liz Rogers : RIP Bill
From Marjorie Anglesea Jackson : Very sad, RIP Bill
From Elizabeth English
So so sorry to hear about Bill's passing. Have fond memories of him taking me to his favourite BYOG restaurants in SYD & hearing him yell "Hiya Lizzie, how the **** are you" as I was running through the lobby of the Pamodzi Hotel (Lusaka) in a very skimpy bikini. Rest In Peace Bill, life was never dull with you around.
From Richard Mudge
Sorry to hear about the recent passing of my former manager Mr Bill McNamara, I worked with him in BCal's Sydney Office. Bill was always a fair and understanding person with a good heart towards his staff and business colleagues. His cheerful personality, laughter and smiles at functions will be missed in the local travel industry. Rest in Peace”.
If you would like to leave a message in remembrance please drop me a line anytime at BCalatribute@outlook.com
Condolences have also been extended by:
Dave Thaxter, Roger Henning, Tony Cocklin, Jim Williams, Fee Flee, Christine Jegu, Caron Phillips, Tina Harvey, Sharon Burgess, Julie Nuttall, Peter Durran, Brian Buchanan Aitchison, Julie Hourigan, Riaz Butt, Rebecca Froggatt, Gwyn Jenkins,
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From Caron Phillips : RIP and my condolences to his family and friends
From Lynne Le Maitre : How sad. RIP Bill.
From Richard Heywood : Very sad. Bill was a character and a half. RIP
From Peter Popplewell
As Bill’s Sales Manager, in outpost Australia, I wish to add my sincere sadness at his passing.
A Good, and Loyal friend to All who knew him.
From Liz Rogers : RIP Bill
From Marjorie Anglesea Jackson : Very sad, RIP Bill
From Elizabeth English
So so sorry to hear about Bill's passing. Have fond memories of him taking me to his favourite BYOG restaurants in SYD & hearing him yell "Hiya Lizzie, how the **** are you" as I was running through the lobby of the Pamodzi Hotel (Lusaka) in a very skimpy bikini. Rest In Peace Bill, life was never dull with you around.
From Richard Mudge
Sorry to hear about the recent passing of my former manager Mr Bill McNamara, I worked with him in BCal's Sydney Office. Bill was always a fair and understanding person with a good heart towards his staff and business colleagues. His cheerful personality, laughter and smiles at functions will be missed in the local travel industry. Rest in Peace”.
If you would like to leave a message in remembrance please drop me a line anytime at BCalatribute@outlook.com
Condolences have also been extended by:
Dave Thaxter, Roger Henning, Tony Cocklin, Jim Williams, Fee Flee, Christine Jegu, Caron Phillips, Tina Harvey, Sharon Burgess, Julie Nuttall, Peter Durran, Brian Buchanan Aitchison, Julie Hourigan, Riaz Butt, Rebecca Froggatt, Gwyn Jenkins,
Close this page
.
Bill (3rd in) next to Dame Edna Everage in 1986 and a more recent photo at his own company
