Skip to primary navigation Skip to content Skip to footer

The Red Cat Team

The History of Red Cat Adventures


In 2004 Asher Telford, a local skipper on Tongarra and Julie Telford, a backpacker from the UK, met in Airlie Beach. In April 2011, they became the proud owners of the mighty Tongarra Sailing vessel and began their amazing journey into the Tourism Industry. In 2015 Red Cat Adventures brand was launched when they built a custom-made vessel called Thundercat.

Red Cat Adventures has continued to grow and develop and now happily boasts four custom-made catamarans, the original 12m sailing vessel Tongarra, and employs a family of 45 staff members.

Red Cat Adventures prides itself on choosing the right staff for each product. The company is now led by a great team of managers and an incredible boat crew. The business’s success is due to long-term employees, hard work and dedication to the environment and tourism Industry.

Owners Asher and Julie are incredibly proud of their family-operated business. They are passionate advocates for the tourism industry and continue to reside in Airlie Beach with their three sons, Kai, Brody and Tyde.

Julie Telford
Owner

AKA: Jules

From: Hull, UK

Hobbies: Being a mummy, running & drinking fine red wine.

Asher Telford
Owner

AKA:

From: Kangaroo Island, Australia

Hobbies: Breeding Red Cats

General Manager

David Rose
General Manager

AKA: dR

From: Auckland, New Zealand

Hobbies: Sailing, racing cars and fine dining

Kerstin Altmann
Accounts

AKA: Any name that sounds like Kerstin (as nobody can pronounce it!)

From: Bavaria, Germany

Hobbies: Digging 4WDs out of the mud

Rebecca Crane
Office Manager

AKA: Bec

From: Perth, Western Australia

Hobbies: Drinking champagne!

Damian Suckling
Fleet Manager

AKA: Damo

Likes: Sailing, anything to do with sailing.

Melissa Bolton
Reservation Manager

AKA: Mel

Likes: Hiking, snorkelling and walking her doggy.

Dan Gabbert
Sales and Marketing Manager

AKA: Dan

Hobbies: Camping, Golf and being on the water

Kelvin Ho
Sales and Marketing Executive

AKA: Kel, Keith, Kevin, Calvin, Kelvinator

From: Hong Kong

Hobbies: Travel and spend time with the ocean

Luke Swift
Events Coordinator

AKA: Swifty

From: England

Hobbies: Football, Soccer, and fishing

Jessanie Johnsen
Deckhand & Savannah Guide

AKA: Jay Jay

From: Airlie Beach

Hobbies: Exercising, making people smile and learning about the environment

Nicholas Annett
Skipper & Fleet Assistant

AKA: Nicko

Likes: Sailing, golf and surfing

 

Shaun Brown
Skipper & Deckhand

AKA: Shaun

From: Darwin, NT

Hobbies: Exploring, fishing, boating and having a bloody good time!

Reece Fearnside
Skipper

AKA: Reecy

From: Brisbane

Hobbies: Spear fishing, exploring adventures and free diving for treasure

Ian Dreadlox
Deckhand & Tour Guide

AKA: Ian

From: Brisbane, QLD

Hobbies: I love the great outdoors, if I’m not on the water I’m in the air skydiving, bit of land, air and sea is what I live for!

a person wearing sunglasses sitting on a beach

Emily Monacella
Environmental Specialist

AKA: Em

From: Warrnambool, VIC

Hobbies: Diving, research, plants & patting dogs

Michaela Veltri

Marine Biologist / Deckhand

AKA: Micca Micca

Likes: Yoga, diving and protecting the environment

Scott James Brown
Deckhand

AKA: Scotty

Likes: Exercise, being outdoors and in the ocean

Kory Bluck
Deckhand

AKA: Korca

From: Airlie Beach

Hobbies: DJ, Skateboarding, Adventuring

a person standing posing for the camera

Rebecca Rollison
Sales and Reservations

AKA: Becca

From: Essex, United Kingdom

Hobbies: Pilates, being social and having fun

Zara Braun
Sales and Reservations

AKA: Z

From: Airlie Beach

Hobbies: Fishing, going on adventures with friends and singing