Locally owned and independent
December 21, 2023
The Northern Rivers Times
NEWS 13
NRMA Parks and Resorts Acquires Angourie Resort from Mitchell Family A significant chapter in the legacy of the Mitchell family draws to a close as they bid farewell to over two decades of ownership at the helm of the iconic Angourie Resort. The reins of this cherished establishment have now passed into the hands of a new owner, NRMA Parks and Resorts, marking a transition that reverberates through the region’s hospitality landscape. NRMA Parks and Resorts’ Chief Executive Officer, Paul Davies, expressed the organization’s longstanding aspiration to integrate Angourie Resort into its esteemed portfolio. “The addition of Angourie Resort aligns seamlessly with our vision, especially in a sought-after holiday destination for our members,” Davies remarked, signalling an exciting new phase for the revered establishment. The genesis of Angourie Resort traces back more than two decades when the
Linda Mitchell and her daughter, Danielle Oppes, captured enjoying a moment at Cunjevoi, the renowned restaurant nestled within Angourie Resort. This cherished snapshot embodies their shared legacy and commitment to the resort’s success. The image was generously contributed, marking a milestone in their journey within the hospitality realm.
Mitchell family, led
conjunction with Mark
continued with a second
meticulously nurtured
by Mark and Linda
and Paul Mitchell’s
phase culminating
Angourie Resort to
Mitchell, embarked
coordination, fuelled
in 2003, unveiling a
become a pinnacle of
on a visionary quest to
the realization of this
restaurant, Day Spa,
North Coast tourism.
transform a triangular
vision. The project’s
expansive conferencing
Danielle’s journey
expanse ensconced in
inception witnessed
rooms, and 32 spa
commenced at the
rainforest and nestled
the collective effort of
apartments, culminating
resort at the age of 15,
near the coastline into an
local artisans like Steve
in the family’s dream
embarking on a Tourism
upscale eco-resort. Linda
Lokic, John Batchelador,
come to fruition.
traineeship that laid
Mitchell reflected on
Rob Young, and Grub
The Mitchell family’s
the groundwork for her
the family’s fervour and
Brotherson, instrumental
unwavering dedication
eventual rise to the role
foresight that catalysed
in materializing the first
spanned multiple
of General Manager.
the resort’s inception in
phase comprising 34
generations, with Mark
Linda Mitchell effusively
2000, underscoring their
Two Bedroom Villas, a
and Mathew Mitchell
praised Danielle’s
collective commitment to
reception building, pool
steering the Blue
astuteness, resilience,
crafting a distinguished
complex, kids’ play area,
Dolphin Holiday Resort
and innovation,
getaway.
conference rooms, and
for the last decade, while
acknowledging her
Architect Warren
essential infrastructure.
Linda Mitchell and her
integral role in elevating
Flynn’s blueprints, in
The resort’s evolution
daughter Danielle Oppes
Angourie Resort’s status.
As the Mitchell family bids adieu to their tenure at Angourie Resort, they express heartfelt gratitude to their dedicated staff, who weathered the challenges and triumphs alongside them. Linda Mitchell emphasized the resilience exhibited through natural disasters, economic downturns, and unprecedented global crises, contrasting these with the jubilant moments of weddings, conferences, and celebrations that underscored the resort’s vibrant history. Despite parting ways with Angourie Resort, the Mitchell family remains firmly anchored in the hospitality industry, continuing to oversee the Blue Dolphin Resort, a cornerstone of the Lower Clarence tourism landscape. Mark Mitchell affirmed the family’s commitment, signalling Danielle and Mathew Mitchell’s continued stewardship of the Blue Dolphin Resort, a testament to their enduring legacy in the hospitality realm.
Inquest Raises Alarming Questions as NSW Child Protective Services Under Scrutiny Disturbing revelations have surfaced as a coronial inquest delves into the tragic demise of a nine-month-old baby girl, referred to as Baby Q, whose life ended tragically after being drowned by her father in the Tweed River back in 2018. Despite prior interactions with child protective services, the period leading up to this heartbreaking incident raised critical concerns about the effectiveness of the safety measures in place to protect vulnerable children. The inquest, spearheaded by Deputy State Coroner Harriet Grahame, initiated a meticulous examination into the circumstances surrounding Baby Q’s untimely death. The child protective services, weeks before the fatal event, reportedly noted no safety concerns despite the family’s precarious circumstances. The family, grappling with homelessness, had undergone numerous relocations between Queensland and northern New South Wales, amplifying the complexities of their situation. Details emerging during the inquest highlighted alarming facts about the father’s mental health condition. With a diagnosis of schizophrenia and a lapse in medication, the father’s past health records unveiled distressing indications of prior hallucinations, prompting visions instructing him to abduct and harm an infant. Shockingly, the father attempted to relinquish the baby to a homeless woman earlier on the tragic day of her demise, a detail that underscores the father’s deteriorating mental state. Counsel assisting the coroner, Donna Ward SC, shed light on the sequence of events, indicating the father’s distressing actions leading up to the irreversible tragedy. Surveillance footage captured the father’s desperate attempts to give away Baby Q before ultimately heading to the Tweed River foreshore, where he callously threw her into the water. The culmination of this distressing narrative was a courtroom verdict in 2020, where the father was deemed not guilty of murder due to mental health concerns. However, the inquest, now underway, aims to address critical inquiries about the systemic failures and lapses in the safety net meant to protect vulnerable children like Baby Q. Ms. Ward underscored the pivotal focus of the inquest, highlighting the urgent need for recommendations to bolster child protective services and other governmental agencies. The overarching goal is to prevent similar harrowing incidents from recurring in the future, fostering a more robust safety apparatus for children in precarious circumstances. The inquest’s gravity lies not just in seeking accountability for the past but in charting a path forward to fortify protective measures and enact tangible reforms within the child welfare system. It represents a critical juncture, prompting a meticulous introspection into systemic flaws and a fervent determination to safeguard the most vulnerable members of our society.
