THE FRONT BOOT
Jayco founder Gerry Ryan remembered Stéphane as a man with whom he could always enjoy a laugh.
“ From the moment I met Stéphane some 25 years ago, our friendship began with a laugh. I still remember looking him straight in the eye and saying,‘ So you’ re the toilet guy’.
“ Over the years, my respect for him only grew. His business acumen was something I admired. And of course, his love of a great wine was legendary; sharing a bottle with him was never just a drink, it was an experience.”
Colleagues consistently described Stéphane as an exceptional leader who listened deeply and cared sincerely.
Scott Van Baardwyk of Avan described Stéphane as a true friend.“ He brought incredible passion, strength, vision and success to everything he did while never losing his remarkable sense of humour that made working with him such a pleasure,” Mr Van Baardwyk said.
His father, Jeff Snr Van Baardwyk, who founded Avan, said Stéphane would be remembered with great respect.
“ Stephane and I shared a close business relationship through Avan spanning more than 20 years. Over the years, we had many meaningful conversations, including time spent cruising the bay in Melbourne.
“ We will always regret not being able to attend the Thetford 20th anniversary celebrations in Melbourne. Stephane will be deeply missed by many, including myself and my family.”
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