Community
5 November, 2024
Tributes for trailblazer
ADORED Port Douglas development trailblazer Marillyn Morris has been fondly lauded by family, friends and the community.
Mrs Morris died on October 27, surrounded by family, after a long battle with dementia. She was 93.
With her husband John ‘Mr Port Douglas’ Morris, they are credited for developing Port Douglas from a quiet seaside town to today’s internationally-renowned tourist destination.
The couple arrived in Port Douglas in 1974 looking for a boat berth, before deciding to stay permanently.
Daughter Wendy Morris said her mother was a “brilliant” mathematician and the first female analyst on the west coast of the United States, before falling in love with Australian John Morris, who was sailing ‘Transpac Race’ to Hawaii.
“They soon married and settled back in Sydney, with the family moving to Port Douglas in the early 1970s,” Ms Morris said.
“She has been the backbone of the Morris family businesses across industries ranging from medical manufacturing, tourism, farming, reef boats and more,” she said.
Ms Morris said her mother was a “quiet, but trailblazing role model” and the family matriarch would be “deeply missed”.
“To all who knew her she was always smiling and vivacious, friends with everyone who knew her, and a shining light of a life well lived,” she said. “She played an important role behind the scenes, alongside her husband John, in so much of the early pivotal times of Port Douglas emerging as a world-class tourism destination.”
Tourism leader Mark Olsen paid his respects to Mrs Morris who, alongside her husband, helped bring high-end developments to Port Douglas, including the Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort and The Escape Collection.
Mr Olsen said it was with sadness the tourism industry farewelled Mrs Morris.
“Marillyn arrived in Port Douglas in 1974 with her husband John looking for a boat berth,” he said.
“Since then, the Morris name has been synonymous with the development of Port Douglas as an iconic tourism destination in Tropical North Queensland”.
Mr Olsen said his thoughts were with the family.
Douglas Shire Mayor Lisa Scomazzon said the council was saddened to hear about the death of Mrs Morris and “my thoughts are with her husband John and her family”.
“The Morris family have been key players in developing Port Douglas over many years and the Douglas Shire is grateful for Marrilyn’s broad contribution to the region,” she said.
Mrs Morris is survived by her husband John, daughters Janet and Wendy, grandchildren Martine, Alex, Nick and James, and eight great-grandchildren.
