Anne Rogers

Anne established Wings Away Travel 26 years ago in 1985, after a 12-year career with Ansett. Despite years of travelling, and countless trips all over the world, she loves re-visiting her favourite spots, but has a permanent New Year's resolution to discover at least one new destination each year. New York and Japan are big favourites. Cruising is a passion. South Africa was life-changing, and South America full of wonderful surprises. Anne is an Olympic standard shopper and loves a bargain, and she delights in passing on her favourite spots to like minded ladies (and the odd gent!).
 
Anne enjoys writing travel columns for a number of newsletters and magazines, and especially enjoys her regular travel spot on top-rating Radio 3AW in Melbourne.

Andrew Cross

As Wings Away Travel & Cruiseland expanded, the next logical step was to appoint a General Manager to manage the day to day running of the business allowing Managing Director and Proprietor Anne Rogers to concentrate on business development and marketing.

In August 2010 we were delighted to announce the appointment of Andrew Cross to this position.  Andrew came from a hospitality background and being in the travel industry for over a decade, sparked an interest in travel after spending time overseas.

Prior to joining Wings Away Travel, Andrew was the Regional Operations Manager for the highly successful and award winning organisation: Globetrotter Corporate Travel.

In his spare time, Andrew likes reading and catching up with friends for long leisurely dinners. His favourite holiday destination "Would have to be continental Europe, for its diverse range of cultures being such a short distance from one another."

To quote Andrew when he joined Wings Away Travel: "I have been given an amazing opportunity to work in the field of leisure travel again, the area that sparked my passion for travel in the beginning. I very much look forward to working with the highly dedicated and knowledgeable Wings Away team."

Maree McClelland

Maree is another travel veteran having decided on a career in travel after a year in the United States as an exchange student. She was a long time employee - from junior to Manager, with the prestigious Wandana organisation, and during her years there developed a passion for Norfolk Island. Fast forward 30 years, and Maree has done more than 120 trips to her beloved Pacific Isle, and there is nothing she doesn't know about this gem of a destination. Maree also spent a number of years on the supply side of our industry managing a large wholesale company specialising in South Pacific destinations. During the course of her career, Maree has managed countless group tours to all corners of the world, and she is renowned as one of the finest Tour Managers in the business - we are indeed lucky to have her on our team. Maree's role with us includes concept and design of our very successful group tours programme - she is always on the look-out for an idea for a special interest tour!  Maree has been with us for 12 years.

Carole Fraser

Carole has spent a lifetime in travel, commencing with a junior position in Melbourne when she left school at 16. Since then she has spent several periods living and working overseas - in America, London, Switzerland, Greece, and India, and returning to Melbourne in between each to hone her skills as a travel consultant. Carole spent a number of years in shipping - back in the days when a working holiday overseas was very much the thing to do, and a long sea voyage was the way to get to London. She also spent eight years in Adventure Travel, selling and escorting tours to some of the world's most exotic and interesting spots. After a spell as a corporate travel consultant, and yet another period of living in London, Carole found her way to Wings Away, and is one of our most experienced travellers!! Carole loves to shop (don't we all?), and she especially enjoys a break in one of her favourite cities - New York perhaps, or Hong Kong. 

All her travels led her to realise her desire was to work with people and in the retail sector of the travel industry. This is how she came to be a part of the Wings Away Travel team and she has been a valued member for 8 years now.

Jonathan Doneley

After numerous years working in the retail and banking industries, Jonathan has now combined his travel passion with a career in this field and has been with Wings Away Travel for 8 years.  Having discovered the pleasures and joys of cruising he still yearns the awakening of China and the great expanse of Arizona, New Mexico and the American Indian trails.
 
Jonathan's travels have taken him to the Pacific Islands, the American North East, Thailand, Bali and the major tourist centres of Europe. Most memorable place to visit was a spur of the moment decision to extend a stay in New York from a fortnight to 2 months in the mid 80s, and for the forced holiday - the beauty of Broome.

Patricia D’Angelo

Patricia has been at Wings Away for 12 years of her twenty years in travel.
After being on the “front line” of Travel Advising, Patricia now works in a support role to our full time advising staff. 
 
Her passion for travel commenced at 13 years of age after visiting Italy. The cultural experience, Italian style and exquisite food whetted her appetite for travelling overseas! (The Alitalia flight……..is another story!)
 
Working in the travel industry she gains much satisfaction from the advisory and organisational part of her work. Her favourite part of this process is handing over final documents to enthusiastic clients and ensuring they depart with the utmost confidence and a fully detailed itinerary. “We are so lucky to work in an industry where we are usually sending people away from their everyday routines and pressures, to escape to a resort haven or on an adventure, or anything else they desire!"

Elaine Williamson

Elaine Williamson spent 12 years in the travel industry with RACV Travel prior to joining Wings Away 6 years ago.

She has travelled throughout the world with visits to Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Japan, China, Fiji, Vanuatu, Western Samoa and New Zealand and European countries including UK, Germany, France, Austria, Belgium and Turkey.  She has also experienced three trips to the USA.  Many of her travels have involved taking her two boys and therefore Elaine has an abundant knowledge of the challenges that sometimes go with family travels.

Elaine also has a passion for this wonderful country that we live in, Australia.  There are not too many places that she hasn't ventured to.  A major highlight was a wonderful 14 week experience from Melbourne to Darwin and down the West Coast through the Kimberley's of Western Australia and its wonderful coastline.  Another 9 weeks were also spent experiencing outback Queensland up to the Gulf Country and across to Cairns before heading down our picturesque East Coast.

Elaine loves working in the retail sector of the travel industry and enjoys the relationships that we form with our clients.  She currently works three days a week on Monday/Wednesday/Friday.

Amar Mohtadi

(Currently on maternity leave)

Amar is the newest member to come on board and was delighted to be given the opportunity to join the Wings Away team in September 2010.  Seven years in the travel industry along with her personal travel experiences, has more then qualified Amar to assume the role of Senior Leisure Consultant.  Amar has a very strong work ethic and is passionate about delivering high levels of customer service ensuring every element of a client's holiday is perfect, from the moment they plan their holiday to the minute they return home.

Amar has travelled extensively throughout Australia, Asia, Europe and the Middle-East.  Personal highlights have been trekking through the Thai jungle on the back of an elephant; snorkeling in The Great Barrier Reef and watching a gorgeous sunset in Santorini.

Armed with this background, Amar offers her clients informed, professional and friendly advice.

Vicky Atkins

After 6 years in the travel industry, Vicky joined the Wings Away team 1 year ago.  As well as solid travel industry experience, she is well travelled.  Her journeys have included Europe, Asia and the United States as well as Australia plus she has lived on and off in Italy for a number of years.  Her solid travel background qualifies her well for the position of Cruise Consultant.

Her professional career includes five years at Travelworld, Mt Ommaney, Queensland as well at two years working as a receptionist coordinating tours in Brindisi Youth Hostel, Italy.

Top of Vicky's wish list is to visit Africa; an ambition she hopes to realise before too long.

Jessica Falzon

Our most recent appointment, Senior Travel Adviser - Jessica Falzon, brings a well grounded knowledge of travel to the team having been in the industry 5 years as well as travelling widely.

Initially Jessica worked in retail before deciding to complete a travel course and join the travel industry.

She began in the corporate sector working at Orbit Travel for 2 years after which she took 3 months off to back-pack around Europe to get a taste of travel first hand.

On returning to Australia she worked in the retail sector at Harvey World Travel, Wyndham Village before joining the Wings Away team.

Jessica's favourite place visited is Český Krumlov in the Czech Republic. Travelling by raft down the river, through the medieval village, a definite highlight. She looks forward to recommending 'not to miss' destinations based on her experiences.

Laura Gee

Prior to joining Wings Away as a Groups Co-ordinator, Laura worked in the travel industry for six years - four with Flight Centre and two as a home-based agent.  Missing the social interaction, Laura was keen to get back into an office environment.

Like all of our team, Laura is well travelled and comes with a wealth of experience to offer our group tour clients.  Her ambition is to step foot on all 7 continents - with only Antarctica to go, her dream is almost realised!

Haling from South Texas, Laura makes regular trips home and, naturally, has an expert knowledge of the US.

Laura is delighted to be part of the Wings Away team.