Long-term Phuket expat Joanne Cooney dies, age 51

PHUKET: Long-term Phuket expat Joanne Cooney died in Queensland, Australia, on Sunday night. She was 51.

Originally from Adelaide in South Australia, Ms Cooney first arrived in Phuket in 1983.

Ms Cooney became well known on the island. She spent years working for Thai Marine Leisure and was one of the original editors for the Phuket-based sailing magazine SEA Yachting.

“People who knew Joanne are deeply saddened by her death. She was such a delightful person,” said Lies Sol, one of her close friends.

To read more about Ms Cooney and her role in developing Phuket’s now-famous yachting industry, click here to see the Phuket Gazette’s Facebook page.