The event industry is in shock as news came out that one our favourite people died suddenly on Sunday.

Toby Travanner was not only an excellent MC; he was also tech head, a wine buff and a thoroughly nice human being.

Toby was one of the favourite MCs for the annual MEA Awards. Coming from within the industry he was well versed in the categories and the people.  A couple of memorable ones were in Adelaide 2009 when he had to quieten a rather raucous audience, the Letterman style awards with live band at the SCEC in 2012 and his Gangman Style dance to open the 2014 Awards in Kuala Lumpa.

I recommended Toby as MC for a steel industry conference in Canberra. They wanted someone who would not be fazed by having to introduce the then Prime Minister (Julia Gillard) and opposition leader, Tony Abbott.  One of the things that impressed the delegates was the way Toby was able to put questions to the two leaders after they finished their presentations.  The questions were put respectfully and were totally pertinent to the presentation they had just finished. They hired him again for the following year.

On 30^th March Toby’s last post on Facebook was about others (of course)

I’m in awe of these graduates receiving their qualifications from @kanganinstitutemelbourne last night.

Some are starting their new careers; many are mature students making a milestone change in their life’s journey.

Immigrants, refugees, people born and bred in Australia, all making their lives better and more enriched.

Well done to them all!

And thanks for helping me brush up on names from multiple cultures and nations!

It’s so hard to comprehend when someone leaves us when they are in the prime of their life, at the peak of their game, loved and admired by so many.

Vale Toby, I’ll miss you mate.