Friend pays tribute to Bree-Anna Thomas after boating tragedy

A young woman who died in a boating tragedy off Tasmania’s North West has been remembered as “larger than life” with big dreams of starting a dog shelter in Tasmania with her mum.

A CLOSE friend of Bree-Anna Thomas has described her as a “gem” and “larger than life.”

The bodies of Ms Thomas, 31, and Isaiah Dixon, 23, were found washed ashore on the North-West coast near Fossil Bluff after a day trip on the water took a tragic turn last Monday.

Brittina Ayling had been friends with Ms Thomas for about five years and they worked together in a cafe in Newtown, Queensland before she made the decision to move to Tasmania with her mother.

“For Bree and her mum travelling down to Tasmania it was the dream of going to get a property with tiny homes and a special space for dogs, and they were thinking of setting up a dog shelter,” she said.

Bree-Anna Thomas. Picture: Supplied

“It was so lovely for a mother and daughter to be blessed with that kind of relationship. It was a really special thing.”

Ms Ayling said it had been tough week talking with those who knew her in Queensland about what had happened.

“She was gem, she was larger than life, she brought a smile to so many faces, she was friend to so many people and she had such a connection with animals.”

“I grew up in Tassie and my parents have a property just out Sheffield, so it has given me some comfort to know what the North West community is like and I know how people come together at times like this,” she said.

Bree-Anna Thomas. Pic: Facebook.

Ms Ayling said she was grateful to be able to spend time with Ms Thomas during a visit in May.

“She was so happy down there and the work she was doing it was a great future for her and she was just so settled.”

“It was great to meet her new partner and see that joy in her.”

She said Ms Thomas was well known to all the “fur babies” in the Newtown area and was alway happy to offer advise on dogs.

“Both our dogs were called Luna so there was that little connection there as well.”

Tasmania Police deployed divers off the coast of Wynyard on Wednesday as they continue their search for Thomas Courto, the third member of their party, who failed to return from the boat trip.

“The analysis of a two-day sonar survey conducted has identified an area of anomaly on the seabed near the coastline,” Tasmania Police said.

Ms Ayling has set up a GoFundMe fundraiser to help support Ms Thomas’ family.