Sailing community reeling at shock loss of club commodore
The Atherton Tableland sailing community is mourning the loss of a club stalwart and community champion following a freak accident on the Peninsula Development Rd last week.
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THE Atherton Tableland sailing community is mourning the loss of club stalwart and community champion following a freak accident on the Peninsula Development Rd last week.
Goldsborough man Michael Formosa was working as a surveyor for Veris Surveyors and Town Planners 90km south of Weipa last Wednesday when he was struck by a heavy vehicle.
Mr Formosa quickly became involved with the Tinaroo Sailing Club after relocating north from Harvey Bay in 2016 and was made commodore of the club in 2020.
Tinaroo Sailing Club member Rex Hutchison was almost lost for words when asked about the significance of the loss to the community.
“It’s a major shock, it’s inexplicable, I don’t really know how to explain it or what to say to people. It’s just sad,” he said.
“He had a very strong connection the sailing club and he was the commodore. He was very active on the committee.
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“He was easily approachable and easy to get along with and had a good community spirit.
“I think it’s a big loss for his family and the community as a whole.
“He will be a loss to the surveying profession as well.”
Mr Formosa began his surveying career with the RPS Group in Townsville in 2007 before moving to the Fraser Coast to take up a role with Surveyors@Work in 2011.
He moved to the Pilbara region in Western Australia for a year before moving back to Hervey Bay in 2013 to work for Goodwin Midson.
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Mr Formosa moved to a surveyor role with THG Resource Strategists before taking on the role with Veris Cairns in 2016.
Mr Hutchison said his sailing club friend was a kind family man who was generous with his knowledge and time.
“He was close to his family and mother and father, and he was a family person,” he said.
Shipmates at the Tinaroo Sailing Club posted a solemn social media tribute to their commodore following the accident.
“Words cannot express how shocked we are with this news,” the club said.
“You will be fondly remembered by us all.
“Fair winds Mike. Rest in peace.”
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland provided a statement following a Cairns Post request.
“Workplace Health and Safety Queensland is investigating an incident which occurred at around 9:30am on Wednesday 13 July 2022, approximately 90 kilometres south of Weipa along the Peninsula Development Road upgrade,” a spokesman said.
“Initial inquiries indicate a man surveying the site as part of a multi-million dollar upgrade was fatally struck by a truck and trailer also involved in the road works.
“WHSQ Statewide Investigations Unit attended the remote site along with the QPS Forensic Crash Unit to investigate the circumstances relating to this tragedy.
“With investigations ongoing, no further comment can be made.”
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