Dreamworld tragedy: Ardent staff ‘shocked and saddened’

Ardent boss Deborah Thomas will donate the $167,500 cash bonus she was granted today to the Dreamworld victims.

Ardent Leisure chief executive Deborah Thomas will donate the $167,500 cash bonus she was granted today to the Dreamworld victims and emergency service workers.

Ms Thomas decided this evening that the cash will be given to the Australian Red Cross for distribution to the families, park workers and emergency service rescuers who were on site after Tuesday’s accident.

“I have been deeply affected and saddened by the tragic deaths of Kate Goodchild, Luke Dorsett, Roozbeh Araghi, and Cindy Low at Dreamworld on Tuesday, in particular the impact of this incident on their children and families,” she said.

I will be making a personal donation of $167,500, which comprises my entire cash bonus, to the Australian Red Cross via the Dreamworld memorial day event. Red Cross will ensure 100 per cent is directed to support people affected by this tragic event.”

‘Shocked’ Thomas urges patience

Earlier, Mrs Thomas was forced to concede the company’s board and management had failed to contact the grieving families of the four people killed at Dreamworld on Tuesday.

During a tense press conference after the company’s annual meeting, Ms Thomas said Ardent, which is worth nearly $1 billion, did not know how to contact Karen Dorsett, who lost her son Luke and daughter Karen Goodchild in the accident.

Mr Dorsett’s partner Roozi Araghi and Sydney woman Cindy Low were also killed.

The company said in a statement on Tuesday it would work with the families and provide support immediately.

However, Ms Thomas and chairman Neil Balnaves were embarrassed when it was revealed during the press conference that no contact had been made with the family.

“We didn’t call the Dorsett family directly because we didn’t know how to contact them,” she said.

“We have been to the police, I’’m very happy to call her after this meeting.”

A Ten Network reporter, Melinda Nucifora, gave Ms Thomas, a former high-profile journalist, Ms Dorsett’s mobile number.

“I would like to say to Mrs Dorsett my sincere sympathies for what you must be going through, and on behalf of the staff and management at Ardent and Dreamworld, that our hearts and our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this difficult time,” Ms Thomas said.

“I will be calling you to see what assistance we can offer you.”

Distressed: Deborah Thomas at the AGM

Clearly distressed, Ms Thomas said she wanted to personally help the grieving families.

“I am a mother, I have a family. I take my family to Dreamworld,” she said. “This could have been my family and I am completely sympathetic to what they must be going through.

“I hope that I will be able to help them and if I can’t help them personally, we will make sure we have everything in place to assist them through this tragedy.”

Ms Thomas was today awarded nearly $1 million worth of stapled securities as a bonus which formed part of her short-term incentives remuneration package.

The granting of the shares was waved through by shareholders at the AGM, who raised little objection to the bonus payment, despite the Dreamworld accident.

A fiery Ms Thomas refused to justify the payment or whether she would refuse to accept the shares in light of the four fatalities.

Mr Balnaves was forced to step in and said the shares were granted on Ms Thomas’s performance as chief executive in the previous financial year.

Earlier, board members expressed their condolences over Tuesday’s accident at Dreamworld.

Their comments came as the theme park and entertainment group acknowledged the events would significantly crimp profits, with Dreamworld remaining closed until the weekend.

Despite the worries around earnings, Ardent (AAD) shares recovered some lost ground in morning trade, jumping 5 per cent to $2.10 at 10.55am (AEDT).

In a speech to the AGM, Mr Balnaves recognised the heartbreak of the last few days, ahead of commencing the formal business of the meeting.

“On behalf of the board, management and our staff I offer our sincere condolences to the victims and their families,” he said.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to express the board gratitude and sincere appreciation for the efforts of the police, emergency services and our staff in dealing with such a horrific event.

Mr Balnaves indicated the AGM would have been cancelled if possible.

“Unfortunately, this is a statutory meeting and in accordance with the constitution of the company we are required to convene the meeting as planned.”

Ms Thomas echoed similar sentiments, noting Ardent employees had been shaken by the tragedy.

“On behalf of all staff and management, I would like to express our deepest and most heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of those tragically killed. Our thoughts and prayers are with them, particularly their children,” she said in comments released before the start of the AGM.

“Everyone at Ardent Leisure and Dreamworld are deeply shocked and saddened by this tragedy.

“Our immediate concern remains with the families of the victims and how we can assist them through this difficult time to provide counselling to affected guests and staff.”

“I understand the intense interest in this catastrophic event and appreciate there are many questions to be answered,” she said.

Ms Thomas said there was little more she could add while the coronial investigation proceeds.

“But I ask for your patience as we work with those authorities to first establish the facts.”

Ardent, which saw almost a quarter of its market value wiped across the past two trading sessions, currently plans to reopen Dreamworld to the public on Saturday, although the ride in question — Thunder River Rapids — will remain closed.

Ms Thomas said the events of the past few days would significantly weigh on the company’s outlook after a strong start to fiscal 2017 that had seen theme park revenue on track to surpass last year’s numbers.

“Revenue lost as a result of this tragic event will have a significant impact on EBITDA for the remainder of the year, due to the high level of fixed costs required to operate the business,” Ms Thomas said.

“It is not possible for me to provide any further guidance at this time, however we will provide regular updates to the market with our trading figures during the next eight months to ensure that the market is fully informed.”