Keith Williams  passed away on the Gold Coast early today aged 82.

Keith Williams introduced theme parks to Australia with the creation of Sea World on the Gold Coast, he opened the Whitsundays through the development of Hamilton Island as a world class tourist resort, and he was a pioneer of water skiing in Australia.

I had many dealings with Keith in my line of work and strangely even though I did not like him as a person he seemed to trust me and accept my advice.

I remember sitting in his office and he told me about he was once a  telegram delivery boy.

I remember after a fire burnt out a lot of the buildings on Hamilton Island, I was there a few days later and Keith drove by in his 4wd, he asked me to hop in and asked for advice which I offered. He took that advice and the suggestion I gave is still in place today.

I never gave him preferential treatment, was always honest with him and I think he appreciated that sometimes to the dismay of his closest advisors who shuddered when i told him my opinion.

He was one of the original, if not the instigator of the white shoe brigade, friends of bjelke peterson.

Nevertheless I enjoyed our encounters.