’I am a mother, this could have been my family,’ says theme park boss as she pledges to call families

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The chief executive of Ardent Leisure, which owns Dreamworld, confirmed she wanted the families to have the money in the wake of the tragedy, which killed four people.

Ms Thomas was today lambasted over potentially receiving up to $800,000 in bonuses for the last financial year.

She said she would donate the short term cash bonus already received.

“I have been deeply affected and saddened by the tragic deaths of Kate Goodchild, Luke Dorsett, Roozbeh Araghi, and Cindy Low at Dreamworld on Tuesday, in particular the impact of this incident on their children and families,’’ she said in a statement.

“I will be making a personal donation of $167,500, which comprises my entire cash bonus, to the Australian Red Cross via the Dreamworld memorial day event.

“Red Cross will ensure 100 per cent is directed to support people affected by this tragic event.”

Earlier, the Dreamworld boss offered her sympathies to the loved ones of the four people who were killed with the Thunder River Rapids Ride malfunctioned.

“I am a mother, I have a family. I take my family to Dreamworld,” she said.

“This could have been my family and I am completely sympathetic to what they must be going through.

Ardent Leisure earlier defended the decision to reopen the park for a memorial service tomorrow but this afternoon cancelled.

In a statement, a spokesman for the theme park said Queensland Police Service (QPS) had advised they would be “unable to proceed” with tomorrow’s memorial service as planned.

“Obviously the integrity of the Coronial Investigation is of paramount importance and postponing the service will give QPS the time it needs to conduct this investigation,” he said.

The spokesman said the park would update the public on Monday with regards to the memorial service and reopening of the park.

Kate Goodchild, her brother Luke Dorsett, his partner Roozi Araghi and Cindy Low all died in horrific circumstances in the accident at Dreamworld.

David Goodchild could only watch helplessly after seeing the raft capsize — and it was a near-miracle that his daughter Ebony, 12, who was flung clear, survived.

Kieran Low, 10, also survived the accident.

Shareholders signed off on a $811,845 bonus for Mrs Thomas, 60, which brings her pay packet to $1.48 million.

Retiring Ardent Leisure chairman Neal Balnaves said the decision to reopen the park so soon after the accident had been “subject to a lot of deliberation over the past 24 hours”.

“After discussions with counsellors … the decision was taken to turn (the open day) into a fundraising event to support the Red Cross and all the admission fees will be donated to them,” he said.

“The advice we have from psychologists and a lot of the people working with the staff is that it is better that people get back to work and get together with their comrades,” he said.

Mr Balnaves said the Thunder River Rapids ride had passed its annual safety check four weeks prior to the accident.

“That is what confounds the tragedy even more for us because it is absolutely surprising as to why we can get through that process and have everything up to date [and still have an issue],” Mr Balnaves said.

“I mean, the park does not take its safety as a casual issue. It works on a world’s-best standards. It follows world-best practices, it uses international experts to set up the scheme.”

Ms Thomas declined to answer questions about her bonus.

“In terms of my performance rights, that is a question for the board, it is a question for the shareholders, and it was voted today, and it’s not really the time for me to be discussing that right now under the circumstances,” she said.

Mr Balnaves defended the granting of her bonus, which 58 per cent of shareholders voted in favour of, and said it was for work completed up to June 30, 2016, and not for the current financial year.

“Any bonus Ms Thomas has relates to the prior year … The tragedy is only 48 hours old. It is just inappropriate to talk about commercial matters at this time,” he said.

Mr Balnaves said that Ardent Leisure was expecting the theme park business, which includes Dreamworld, WhiteWater World and SkyPoint, to take a substantial earnings hit in the current financial year due to the accident.

“It will have a material effect on Dreamworld’s result in the second half, there’s no doubt about that. And there will be a continuing effect, I would expect, through the next financial year, but it will diminish as time goes by,” he said.

At the beginning of the annual general meeting of shareholders in Sydney today, Ms Thomas offered her condolences to the families and friends of the four patrons tragically killed.

“Everyone at Ardent Leisure and Dreamworld are deeply shocked and saddened by this tragedy. Our immediate concern remains with the families of the victims and how we can assist them through this difficult time — to provide counselling to affected guests and staff,” she said.

Told that Luke Dorsett’s mother was watching the press conference, she addressed the family.

“I would like to say to Mrs Dorsett, my sincere sympathies for what you must be going through, and on behalf of the staff and management at Ardent and Dreamworld, that our hearts and our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this difficult time.

“I will be calling you to see what assistance we can offer you.”