One Million Memories Winner- Chris Jones

Last year Hamilton Island commemorated one million guests landing and departing our tropical destination. As part of our celebration for this incredible milestone we invited past guests to take part in a competition and share their favourite Hamilton Island memories with us.
 
With over 2,500 entries we were overwhelmed with the joyful, hilarious, heartfelt and beautiful stories our community shared. While each one was special and showed the treasured moments created during time spent on the island, Chris Jones’ entry of his wife and son swimming at the Yacht Club Villas caught the judge’s eyes and was crowned the winner.
 
We spoke to Chris about his entry, what it meant to win and what his most excited to be returning to the island for:
 

Learning to swim at the Yacht Club Villas.

How did you hear about the competition and what made you want to enter?

I saw the competition on Instagram with a picture of Tom Williams and his daughter in the Yacht Club Villa Pool. It inspired me to go through my Hamilton Island photos to see if there were any worth entering.
 

What was it about the image and memory you shared that meant so much to you?

The image I shared showed the great bond between my son and wife. It reminds me of Kit (our son) learning to swim in the Yacht Club Villa Pool. What makes this photo even more special is that my wife was four months pregnant at the time with our youngest child. For me the photo really sums up what family holidays are all about.
 

Family fun in the pool.

What were the highlights from this holiday?

There were so many. If I had to pick some out they would be:

• Staying in a Yacht Club Villa with friends.
• Celebrating the wedding of our good friends Steve and Jess.
• Ticking off a bucket list golf course by playing at Hamilton Island Golf Course.
• And for our son, he had a fantastic time riding around in the golf buggies! 

Chris and family taking in a sunset at Hamilton Island.

There are three accommodation options to select from for the prize, which one are you going to pick?

Because we had such a fantastic stay in the Yacht Club Villas last year, we couldn't go past this option. This means that a few family and friends can join us as well. As we have two young boys, it will be really nice having the grassy area and pool right outside the villa. The accommodation is definitely the part of the prize I am most looking forward to.
 

Watching sunsets at Bommie Deck.

What other parts of the prize are you looking forward to?

I just feel really fortunate to get an opportunity to go back to Hamilton Island. We are looking forward to trying some of the restaurants that we didn't get a chance to go to last time and we are definitely going to spend more time taking advantage of the water sports. I can't wait to try and take on the golf course again. Hopefully, I can try not to lose as many balls this time around!
 

Chris playing a round of golf at Hamilton Island Golf Course.

In three words sum up a holiday to Hamilton Island:

Relaxed, Family, Fun.
 

Kit can't wait to come back to the island!