Operations co-ordinator

Yvonne Holmes

How I found WRAY

I came to the Whitsundays for a sea change from Brisbane in 1999. I joined WRAY as a cleaner in 2005, worked in sales for about two years and then joined the operations team in 2009.

My secret skill

Multi-skilling and attention to detail. Pristine and reliable boats help make people’s holidays memorable for all the right reasons.

Best Whitsunday experience

Sometimes the migrating humpback whales swim into the passage at Shute Harbour and, from my office at the end of the jetty, I can see them breaching – it’s quite a spectacular sight!

From processing maintenance and cleaning job cards, ordering parts and stock or monitoring radio calls from charterers, it’s operations co-ordinator Yvonne Holmes’ job to ensure all vessels are in top condition for a safe and fun Whitsundays charter.

“You could say I’ve seen WRAY from a wide perspective, having worked in a few different areas within the business,” Yvonne says.

At WRAY, she works closely with operations manager Bryan Whelan and head mechanic Steve Miller, ordering parts and hiring contractors and strives to keep charterers happy.

“For some people, a trip to the Whitsundays is the trip of a lifetime. They may have saved up for years to come here, so it’s our job to make it as clean, safe, fun and memorable as possible. Being able to hand over a boat which is pristine and in top working order is very satisfying. ”

Originally from Melbourne, Yvonne had no sailing experience herself until she and a friend were offered a trip of a lifetime – a three month sailing trip from the Whitsundays to Cairns and back – just before she joined WRAY.

“That was a great way to explore the islands and since joining WRAY I’ve had a few more sailing adventures around the islands on WRAY boats. Whitehaven Beach and Butterfly Bay are two of the prettiest spots, Daydream Island - with its mini golf and king size chess board - is pure fun and I’ve been a spectator on the water at the Whitsundays Fun Race a few times,” Yvonne says.

Since relocating to the Whitsundays, Yvonne has worked in housekeeping and waiting at Hamilton Island, as an advertising rep on the Whitsunday Times and managed a restaurant in Airlie Beach for more than three years. 

For Yvonne, the Whitsundays are now home. “I can’t see myself going anywhere else and the Whitsundays is a great place for family and friends to visit!”

“Postcards don’t lie – the water really is that blue and the sand on Whitehaven Beach is that white. All the little inlets and resorts around the islands are must-see locations. Winter’s a great time to visit because the weather’s near-perfect and there’s a chance you’ll see some whales.

Charterer’s tip

If you want to see the humpback whales and their babies, come in August or September, when they give birth. When you spot a whale, turn your engine off and stand at the bow to watch them.