Battle to bring home beloved Bay entrepreneur Daniel Kelly

The daughter of a beloved Hervey Bay entrepreneur, who managed several hotels in the regions and brought to town some of Australia’s biggest rock acts, is raising funds to bring home his body after he died in Thailand.

Tamara Kelly shared the sad news of the loss of her father, Daniel Kelly, as part of a fundraiser on My Cause, which has so far raised $1215.

The daughter of a legendary Hervey Bay entrepreneur is raising funds to bring his body back to Australia for burial after he died in Thailand on December 30, 2023.

Tamara Kelly shared the sad news of the loss of her father, Daniel Kelly, as part of a fundraiser on My Cause, which has so far raised $1215.

Mr Kelly ran a number of hotels and nightclubs in Hervey Bay, including the Pialba Hotel and the Melanesia Hotel (now the Kondari Hotel), where he brought top Brisbane-based bands.

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He also brought some of Australia’s leading and international rock acts, including Jimmy Barnes, INXS, Canned Heat and many others, to the area.

“I am here to please ask for some help in getting my father back from Thailand to his former home of Hervey Bay, Australia,” Ms Kelly wrote.

“I am devastated to write this and as some of you might already know my father, Danny passed away unexpectedly on Saturday the 30th of December 2023 in Thailand at his home he shared with his beautiful wife, Mae Kelly and two stepchildren.

Tamara Kelly shared the sad news of the loss of her father, Daniel Kelly, as part of a fundraiser on My Cause, which has so far raised $1215. He is pictured here with his partner Mae.

“Truth be told, my dad had been sick for quite some time. Over this past year his health had really started to decline.

“I will always be grateful for the love and care Mae has given my father during the times he most needed. He was well loved by all of us till the very end.

“I am five months pregnant with my first child. I was very fortunate that my fiance and I were able to go visit my dad in Thailand just last month. His eyesight was almost gone but we got to see each other for two whole weeks.

“Even though my heart is in pain, breaking right now, I feel so grateful to have gotten that time together and he got to see my baby bump.

“Due to his health we knew his passing was inevitable but we were never expecting it (to be) this sudden.

“My dad, Danny, was known as one of Hervey Bay’s first entrepreneurs and was a longstanding and loved member of the community.”

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Ms Kelly said her father had been known for his larger-than-life personality, his generosity and his business mind.

“He brought big music acts to perform in the Bay such as INXS and Jimmy Barnes in various venues and nightclubs throughout Hervey Bay over many years,” she said.

“My dad and Mae have been together and living in Thailand for the past 12 years. And over the past few years his health started to decline, unable to walk and unable to work, he sold his last business in Thailand and remaining property to fund his health and living expenses.

“Unfortunately, his sudden passing has left Mae and I scrambling to cover the cost of his hospital bill, release of body fee, crematorium fee and receiving his ashes.

“The funds we raise will cover all of those costs and if we reach our goal, it will also cover the cost for Mae to escort dad home on a plane.

“If there is excess of our goal it will be distributed between Mae and I, his only child.

“We hope to have a private vigil together and release his ashes in Hervey Bay.

“After spending all of our savings on visiting dad last month and trying to get a baby nursery set up my fiance and I find ourselves in no financial position to get my dad home.

“I know with the cost-of-living crisis we are all currently facing, everyone is doing it tough but if you can spare a dollar or anything more, I will be grateful to you from the bottom of my heart.”

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Originally published as Battle to bring home beloved Bay entrepreneur Daniel Kelly