Some Inspirational People

Profiled By

Laurence MacDonald Muir

Foreword

I have been privilege to know and work with each of the people profiled in the

book. Some I have known since school days, some I first met on the football field

and others have been my friends in charitable pursuits and in business.

They are all great achievers who have enriched my life and the lives of others. It

has been a privilege to share experiences with each of then and to watch them

succeed.

They have much in common; in particular they are linked by qualities of

dedication and passion.

Hopefully their stories will inspire others and in particular will be of interest to

younger Australians.

LMM

October 2007

1

CONTENTS

Page

Foreword 1

About the Author 3

Profiles:

* Sir Reginald Ansett 4

* Dr John Birrell 11

* Professor Adrienne Clarke 17

* Denis Cordner 21

* Geoff Donaldson 26

* Sir Edward Dunlop 31

* Dr Michael Gore 35

* David Hains 40

* Douglas Samuel Heywood 43

* Rupert Murdoch 48

* Bernard O’Brien 53

* James Packer 59

* Sir Arvi Parbo 64

* Richard Pratt 67

* Lyn Swinburne 72

Conclusion 78

2

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

After four years of service in the Royal Australian navy in World War II, the author

completed a law degree at the University of Melbourne. In 1950, he joined the

firm of J.B. Were & Son where he was apprenticed to Staniforth Ricketson, Rod

Eggleston, Cam Johnson and Arthur Goode. After becoming a member of the

Stock Exchange of Melbourne in 1960, he became a partner of Ian Potter & Co.

For the next twenty years, he specialised in capital and loan raising for State and

Federal Governments and for corporations. He also served on the Finance

Committee of many charities.

In 1980 he retired from the Stock Exchange to become a Company Director and

to undertake various tasks for State and Federal Governments. He is Patron of

the Baker Medical Research Institute, the Microsurgery Research Foundation

and The Earthwatch Institute.

3

SIR REGINALD ANSETT

At our first meeting in the mid 60’s, I saw an amazing resemblance to Sir Charles

Kinsford Smith, one of our greatest pioneer airmen. Reg was a handsome man,

with a strong jaw and a twinkle in eyes. Like Sir Charles, Reg Ansett became

passionate about flying and about pioneering within the Australian transport

system.

My friend Jim Carr took me to meet Reg to talk about funding for their new school

-- The Peninsula School. Reg was chairman of the Finance Committee and Jim

was treasurer. At the time I was deputy chairman of the Scotch College Council

and was active in raising funds for my school. I found Reg Ansett easy to talk to

and very determined to achieve the best possible educational standards for the

Peninsula.

Reg asked many penetrating questions about Scotch and its administration. He

said he was hoping to use his business experience and his knowledge of the

politicians and the bureaucrats to help the cause. My impression was that of a

big thinker and a dynamic leader.

I told Reg and Jim of our building appeals at Scotch and the plan to set up a

Foundation embracing as its supporters of the whole Scotch family. Reg showed

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great interest in this concept and when in 1973 The Scotch College Foundation

was established, Peninsula was one of the first schools to follow our lead.

A few years ago, I attended a memorial service for my great friend Jim Carr. As I

walked around after the service, I thought of three wonderful men: Sir Reginald

Ansett, John Newton and Jim Carr. Amongst many fine buildings was Ansett Hall

and the boy showing me around told me proudly he was in Ansett House.

In 1929, aged 20, Reg Ansett invested his small amount of capital in learning to

fly. It was for him a proud moment when he acquired an Australian Air Pilot

Licence 419. Because there were few jobs available at the airports, Reg bought

a second hand Studebaker sedan to carry passengers and freight between

Maryborough and Ballarat. Reg did the driving, he was the mechanic and he

managed the business. In 1931, Ansett bought a second car, moved his

operation to Hamilton and employed Colin Macdonald as a second driver.

As Ansett expanded his road service, the Victorian Railways urged the Victorian

Government to protect them from this competition. In 1935, Robert Menzies,

Minister for Railways, introduced a Bill to limit licences to road operators who

provided services which did not compete with the Railways. This was Reg

Ansett’s first battle with the government of the day, but was by no means the last.

He was determined to establish a complete Hamilton to Melbourne road service.

But when he studied the provisions of the Act, he realised the only way to go was

to fly.

5

In 1934, he purchased a small deHavilland Gypsy Moth aircraft for personal use.

In 1935, Ansett registered Ansett Airways Pty Ltd. And soon after he purchased

a Fokker F XI Universal Mono plane from its Coffs harbour owner for Pds 1,000.

On 17th February 1936, at 12.30, the Fokker took off for its inaugural flight from

Hamilton.

Like Charles Kingsford Smith, Reg Ansett used his plane on the weekends to

carry joy riders at 10/- per ride. He also offered aerobatic flights in his Gypsy

Moth at 30s a time.

In 1937, Reg floated his company on the Stock Exchange of Melbourne with an

issue of 250,000 Pds1 shares. He bought several other planes and moved to

Melbourne with a plan to fly to country Victoria, Southern New South Wales,

Adelaide and Sydney. From the beginning Reg Ansett preferred US aircraft –

first the Lockheed Electra and then the Boeings.

The struggling Ansett Airline was transformed by the needs of the United States

and Australian Defence departments during World War II. The Americans took

over the Electras and greatly expanded the aircraft servicing facility. By 1945,

when war ended, Ansett employed 2,000 people and owned one of the best

engineering facilities in the world.

In 1945, the Chifley Labour Government legislated for a government-owned

airline and in 1946 TAA began operating in competition domestically with ANA

and Ansett. The Chifley government working with Sir Hudson Fysh became the

owner of Qantas Empire Airways in 1946, effectively ending ANA’s dream of 6

becoming Australia’s international carrier. During the next ten years as TAA

grew in strength and popularity, ANA struggled whilst Ansett carved a niche for

itself as a profitable third airline. A deal with Colliers Transport gave Reg Ansett

a handsome share of the airfreight business.

In 1957, as ANA was nearing collapse, Ansett Transport Industries offered Pds

3,300,000 for ANA (payable Pds 1 million at the time of sale within 30 days and

the balance within 24 months). The associates of the late Ivan Holyman

approached Ian Potter in an effort to raise capital for ANA. The effort was not

successful nor were plans to float a public company. W.L. Buckland was also

interested but the government supported Ansett’s bid particularly when he

obtained backing of Pds500,000 each from Shell and Mobil.

On 23rd August 1957, Ansett-ANA came into existence. In 1958, the Federal

government introduced the Two Airlines Policy to protect the financial stability of

TAA and Ansett-ANA.

By 1960, Ansett’s expanded empire covered all capital city routes; the

Queensland intrastate routes of Ansett-ANA and Queensland Airlines; the NSW

intrastate routes of Airlines of NSW (formerly Butler Air Transport); the Victorian

intrastate routes called Victorian Air Coach Services; and the South Australian

intrastate routes of Airlines of South Australia (formerly Guinea Airways). The

missing link was Western Australia until 1960 when the Macrobertson family sold

its shares in Macrobertson Miller Airlines to Ansett who soon owned 70% of the

airline. In 1968, he acquired the rest of the company.

7

In 1965, Rod Myer working with me at Potters and a good friend of Sir Reginald

Ansett, said it would be good to bring Sir Ian Potter and Sir Reginald Ansett

together. This we soon arranged and before long our firm was involved in the

financing of Ansett Transport Industries. Reg Ansett was a dynamic and likeable

man, full of ideas and enthusiasm. By the mid 60’s, the Ansett cash flow was

significant and he was looking for expansion opportunities. I worked with Ralph

Cooper, the Finance Director, seeking out investment opportunities. After

strengthening the company’s balance sheet with a couple of share issues, we

arranged the purchase of several road cartage businesses and Baron Bic’s

Australian manufacturing business. We purchased for Ansett a 50% share in

Diners Club Australia and 50% of Avis Australia. Unwisely, as it turned out, I told

Ralph Cooper about the availability of a 30% shareholding in Associated

Securities, a major Australian finance (hire purchase) company. We duly visited

Scotland and purchased for Ansett, the Royal Bank of Scotland’s shareholding.

At the same time, Potters undertook to underwrite a series of debenture issues

for Associated Securities to fund the continuing growth of the group. This we

proceeded to do, but in the third year of the partnership, ASL reported a severe

downturn in profitability. The company asked Ansett for a further capital injection

so that is borrowing ratios could be preserved. Reg Ansett was unable to

persuade his Board to invest further. ASL was placed under official management

at which stage the shares of both group nosedived. Whilst it took some years,

the ASL assets were eventually sold to provide sufficient funds to pay off all

debts. There little, if any, left for the shareholders and Ansett suffered a major

loss.8

The predators were soon in the market for the low priced Ansett shares. Inspired

by my former partner, Keith Halkerston, AMPOL bought a 25% stake with a view

to a takeover. In a challenging response the next day, Ansett bought 25% of

AMPOL, which soon caused AMPOL to back off. However, that parcel of

(Ansett’s) shares was purchased from AMPOL by Rupert Murdoch’s News

Corporation. This effectively destabilised Ansett for all time. Ken Cowley of

News Corporation joined Sir Peter Abeles and Fred Millar on the Ansett Board.

Soon after Robert Holmes A Court bought in and with a 12% holding, he offered

to be “Ansett’s White Knight” on condition that he be appointed to the Board to

become Sir Reginald’s successor. Although tempted by this possibility, Sir

Reginald ultimately said “no”. On being rebuffed, Mr Holmes A Court, sold his

stake to the Abeles Murdoch Group. Control passed to TNT/News. Sir Reginald

stayed briefly as Chairman. After his retirement, things were never quite the

same.

The new proprietors enjoyed the cash flow from the airline and did not always get

the re-equipment decisions right. With diminished funds, Ansett was unable to

withstand the downturn which followed the 9/11 (2001) crisis of terror in the USA.

Within days of 9/11, Ansett crashed and was grounded forever. It was a tragedy

for the Ansett team, for the Australian economy and for thousands of loyal

customers.

It was also a tragedy for thousands of families who derived their income from

Ansett and its subsidiaries.9

For me it was one of the saddest days in my life, relieved only by the fact that

Reg Ansett, the visionary founder, did not live to see this tragedy.

Reg Ansett fought so hard to stay independent of the opportunists in the financial

world. Sadly, forces plundered his wonderful airline with little regard for the

people of Ansett, most of whom lost their jobs following the tragic corporate

collapse.

The growth and continuing success of Peninsula School serves to remind us of

the visionary leadership of the late and great Reg Ansett.

10

DR. JOHN BIRRELL

We first met on the football field. He was big and strong and sometimes loud.

He was brilliant at full forward and a dominating presence. He could mark well in

a pack and send the ball sixty yards through the goals. Which he did ten times in

our 1946 “A Grade” Grand Final encounter to win victory for the University

Blacks.

He was both dedicated and different. His medical course came alive once he

found pathology and problem solving. He was a natural scientist and enquirer

after the truth.

He met Jackie at the University of Melbourne. She shared his passion for

scientific research and quest for answers. She was also his soul mate and an

inspiration.

As a young medical graduate, John Birrell was appointed in 1955 to the position

of Assistant Government Pathologist. In the mortuary, he found many

opportunities for research and a chance to reflect on many aspects of public

health.

In August 1957, the Chief Secretary in the Bolte Government, Arthur Rylah,

appointed John Victoria’s first every Police Surgeon. The appointment by

Governor in Council avoided making the Police Surgeon a public servant or a

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policeman. He retained the right of private practice. Dr Birrell’s role was to

examine drivers suspected of using Victorian Roads under the influence of

intoxicating liquor +/or drugs.

He attended crash scenes, often helping to extricate victims and rendering

morphine to the injured.

Apart from taking blood samples, he soon became interested in studying the

driver’s injury protection and crash helmets for motor cyclers.

Above all, he studied the benefits of seat belts to restrain the occupants on

impact.

In 1960, he joined the Traffic Injury Committee, a sub-committee of the National

health Medical Research Council. The first resolution accepted by the NHMRC

recommended the fitting and wearing seat belts. In January 1961, Victoria

legislated for the compulsory wearing of crash helmets by motorcyclists.

Professor Peter Joubert, of the University of Melbourne’s Engineering School

persuaded the Liberal Party that “In view of the alarming increase in road

accidents that Council should support a movement to compel the wearing of

motor vehicle belts by drivers and passengers”.

12

By October 1964, all new cars were required to have anchor fittings for belts for

the driver and front seat passenger. During the 50’s and 60’s, John Birrell

actively campaigned for seat belts and for the abolition of drink driving. What he

witnessed on the roads on Friday and Saturday nights led him to crusade against

excessive drinking, the 6.00pm closing of bars and the non-wearing of seat belts.

As his campaign mounted, there were many who tried to discredit him in the

media, to gag him from public comment and to limit his involvement in local and

international conferences on road traffic issues. Against all the odds, he won

through, making Victoria a world pioneer in compulsory use of safety belts and in

random breath testing. The invention of the Breathalyser revolutionised roadside

testing at this time.

In 1970, Victoria’s road toll was a horrible 1061. By 2003, it had achieved a

record low of 333! Many of his friends travelled the streets of Melbourne with

John on Friday night. It was a scary and horrific experience, but also an

inspiration to watch the dedication and competence of Dr John Birrell in action.

John’s campaign for road safety was helped immensely when Michael

Shildberger (Channel Nine Night Watch) and Graham Perkin of “The Age” joined

in. Eventually the body of public opinion joined the chorus led by leading

churchmen, medical men, road safety experts and the man in the street (who

drives his children on weekends).

13

Sir Henry Bolt’s Government legislated the Breathalyser Bill on 30th November

1961 and it became law in Victoria on 20th December 1961.

John Birrell wanted more and with typical determination, compelling research

was able to demonstrate to the Phillips Liquor Enquiry that 6 o’clock closing of

bars was causing “binge” drinking and there was a need to fix an alcohol limit for

all drivers. Mr Phillips Q. C. went for the lower of the suggested limits and in

March 1965, he recommended a blood alcohol limit of 0.05% while driving. In

October 1965, parliament introduced the necessary legislation and on February

1st, 1966 6 o’clock closing disappeared and it became an offence to drive with a

blood alcohol exceeding 0.05%.

In December 1970, the Bolte Government introduced compulsory seat belt

wearing legislation – a world first!

Ten years later, at a conference on Road Safety Initiatives in Victoria, in 1980, an

American expert said “I want to state my belief that passing that law here in

Victoria was the single most important action taken on behalf of road safety

anywhere in the world, at any time during the era of the motor car. By passing

the law, you have defied the conventional view that no one would obey. Your

influence has reached all states of Australia by 1972, New Zealand 1972, France

1973, Puerto Rico and Spain in 1974. In 1975, it was Sweden, Belgium,

Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Finland, Norway and Israel. In 1976 it was

Switzerland, West Germany, Denmark, The Soviet Union and Austria. In 1977, 14

several Canadian Provinces were legislating. Sadly the U.K, and U.S.A are still

not there.

The Victoria (John Birrell) initiative has influenced tens of millions of drivers. That

makes this a monumental achievement.”

John Birrell was a genuine pioneer, a fine research pathologist, a humanitarian, a

powerful advocate and a good Samaritan. Like many great men of science, he

has saved many, many lives. His model for increased road safety (seat belts,

drink driving limits and breathalyser tests) have been copied in most developed

countries in the world.

At his memorial service at Point Lonsdale, Jackie gave each of us a small sapling

(Australian Eucalypt) cloned by John in his spare time. Mine, a Tasmanian Blue

Gum, is a constant reminder of a great friend and inspiring life.

Apart from his botanical interests, John had his patients to attend to and with his

brother, he became a leading advocate against child abuse. In due course,

under the chairmanship of Sir Peter Derham, the Victorian Society for the

Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect was established.

Seat belts and breathalysers have saved thousands of lives. Every Victorian

family has good reason to be grateful for the dedication and advocacy of the late

Dr John Birrell.15

In the early 70’s, when in London on business, I made a brief visit to the Visitor's

Gallery in the House of Lords. The member speaking on my arrival was praising

the compulsory seat belt laws of the sovereign state of Victoria. The next

speaker rose to oppose the proposal that the U.K. should follow suit. “There is

no way in which an Englishman would accept a restriction of his (or her) liberty”,

he said. I thought of John Birrell and all he went through to fight tradition and

prejudice. He argued that a motorist was only entitled to a driving licence if he

committed to wearing a seat belt and to compulsory drink +/or drug tests.

It is a blessing for all Victorian road users that he succeeded in his advocacy.

16

PROFESSOR ADRIENNE CLARKE

We met in 1993 when Adrienne joined the Alcoa Board. She was our only

female and certainly our only Professor of Botany. It was a timely appointment

because of the mining industry’s growing concern for the environment.

Since 1985, Professor Clarke has had a personal chair in the School of Botany at

the University of Melbourne. She is an outstanding environmental scientist and

from 1991-1996, she was Chairman of the Commonwealth Scientific and

Industrial Research Organisation. She also directed the Plant Cell Biology

Research Centre at the University of Melbourne, from 1982 – 1999. She is our

specialist in plant molecular biology. Adrienne brought new perspectives to our

Board discussions and was a quick learner about all facets of Alco’s business.

She is very intelligent and very charming. When our Alcoa Board was

disbanded, Adrienne in 1996 joined the Western Mining Board. Since 1994, she

has served on the Boards of Fisher and Paykel, Woolworths and the AMP

Society. In her spare time, she served as Lieutenant Governor of Victoria from

1997 – 2000! She also served on the Committee for Melbourne from 1994-2003.

Since 2002, she has been a member of the Mental Health Research Institute.

Adrienne has been an outstanding contributor to biological science and to

commercial ventures which develop from the science. She has been much

17

honoured by her peers for the advancement of science, both in Australia and

overseas.

When we first sat together at the Alcoa Board, I did not realise that I was sitting

beside a world-renowned plant geneticist. Professor Clarke was the first

appointed Laureatic Professor at the University of Melbourne. Her team was the

first to clone the gene which regulates self-compatibility in plants and the first to

clone the “c” DNA of an Arabinogelactan Protein. She has brought great honour

to the University of Melbourne Botany School.

In 2001 she was appointed Ambassador for Bio Technology for Victoria.

During the 90’s she was the president of the International Society for Plant

Molecular Biology. The USA recognised Adrienne’s contribution to science in

1993 when she was appointed a Foreign Associate of the USA National

Academy of Sciences.

She is a highly respected fellow of the Australian Academy of Science. In 1993

the Australia Day Council awarded Adrienne the outstanding achievers award.

In 2006 she was honoured with the President’s Medal from the Australian and

New Zealand Society for Cellular and Developmental Biology.

18

Adrienne has devoted many years as an advisor to both Commonwealth and

State Governments on matters relating to Science, Technology, Food production,

Agra-business and Foreign Aid. She has played a leading role on the world

stage in many areas of plant sciences. In 2003, she was an independent

scientist-at-large to a World Bank steering committee on agricultural science.

Alone or in collaboration with other biological scientists, she has published four

books, thirty-eight book chapters and 145 scientific papers.

Professor Clarke was a member of the Prime Minister’s Supermarket to Asia

Council from 1996 to 2002.

Adrienne’s ability to marry science with business is remarkable. Her intellect and

enquiring mind, her composure and logical approach to problems are strength in

any boardroom. Her achievements are also a 5reminder that decision-making in

the corporate sector requires the balanced view of male and female board

members.

As one of our pioneering scientists and company directors, Adrienne will

hopefully inspire the corporate sector to tap more frequently the vast resource of

talented females, which exists in Australia.

Our paths cross rarely these days, but when they do I am reminded how

fortunate I was to share some time on the Alcoa Board with one of Australia’s

outstanding scientists.19

I am hopeful that Adrienne will spire and encourage lots of other intelligent

woman to serve in the male dominated corporate boardrooms.

20

DENIS CORDNER

We met on the football field at Scotch College in 1941. He rucked for Melbourne

Grammar School and I rucked for Scotch. He was an imposing six feet, four

inches in old parlance and an excellent high mark. His ruck partner, David

Brown, was also a giant and with their dominance grammar inflicted Scotch’s

only loss for the year. At one stage he (Denis) landed on my foot leaving the

victor’s scar which I have worn with pride ever since.

Like many of us, Denis entered the Navy in 1942 and served as a junior officer in

the Corvettes in the pacific theatre of war. His brother Ted, a surgeon

Lieutenant, also served in the war time Navy and he and I often played together

in Navy teams, both Aussie Rules and Rugby. In late 1942, I was invited to join

the training list for the Melbourne Football Club season 1943, bud had to decline

with thanks because I was enlisted in the Navy. From time to time when on leave

from Flinders Naval Depot, I did attend training at the Albert Park Ground and on

two or three other occasions, I played in the Melbourne Reserves. Ted, Donald

and Denis Cordner were on the Melbourne list at the time – all three went on to

stardom. In 1946, Denis commenced a Science Degree at University of

Melbourne and he also became engaged to the lovely Patricia Bowes from

Sydney. Pat had been one of the delightful young ladies who hosted we young

sailors when ashore at 44 Maclery Street, Kings Cross. Several romances

21

developed between these beautiful girls and the handsome young officers.

Denis

starred in the University Blacks “A Grade” Aussies Rules team in 1946, 1947 and

1948. In 1946, as mentioned elsewhere, the Blacks were unbeaten and beat my

team Old Scotch by ten goals in the final. Denis was Captain in 1948 and was

Best and Fairest in the Amateur Football Association.

He was a natural leader and an inspiration when the going got tough. I

remember a final when against Ormond we, the Blacks, were nine goals down at

three-quarter time. Thanks to the Cordner punches to the forward line from the

centre bounce, we won by eleven points!!

On an intervarsity trip to Hobart in 1947, Denis and David Kerr decided to send

my girlfriend an engagement ring. It was both amusing and embarrassing at the

time, but it led to an engagement and a lovely wedding on February 28th, 1948. It

probably sounds unusual but Pat and Denis Cordner were our only honeymoon

visitors when Pat and Ruth went riding around Mt Macedon.

In 1947, 1948 and 1949, I had the privilege of playing the Black’s premiership

teams – two years with Denis and in 1949 rucking with his youngest brother,

John. Denis returned to the Melbourne Football Club in the 1948 drawn Grand

Final against Essendon and on the following Saturday, winning the replay. He

went on to Captain Melbourne like his brother Donald and was a regular

interstate representative. He was always fair, and an amateur long after

professional money was available.

22

Having completed his degree in 1948, he did a Masters year and joined

Wunderlich Industries. After some time in management there, he joined ICI ANZ

(our leading chemical and explosives company).

For a time he was involved in Fibremakers, then ran the New Zealand operation

and finally was appointed joint Managing Director of ICIANZ.

Denis was a manager who liked to be involved in the production issues. He did

not enjoy the boardroom and the politics. In 1980 I asked him to participate in a

Canberra-based conference hopefully to establish a Business Council of

Australia. His knowledge of industrial relations proved profound and he took part

in many sub-committees, which within a couple of years saw the Business

Council of Australia established.

ICIANZ had an unusual structure at the top where there were joint Managing

Directors, one of whom was also Chairman. Denis often expressed to me his

frustration with this system.

Early in the 1980’s, the Federal Treasurer the Hon. Phillip Lynch rang me, having

noted my early retirement from Ian Potter and Co (Australia’s premier broking

house). He wondered if I would consider becoming Australia’s next Consul

General in New York. I was flattered by the invitation and amazed at my wife’s

enthusiasm when we considered the offer. During the six months since my

retirement, I had already accepted invitations to join the Boards of ANZ Banking 23

Group Ltd, Australian Consolidated Industries Ltd., Alcoa of Australia Ltd., and

Wormald Industries Ltd. And I felt I could not change course. With regret I

declined with thanks, but said to Phillip Lynch that he should talk to Denis

Cordner who would be ideal for this overseas posting. It was a thrill soon after to

see Denis announced as our next Consul General. He and Pat enjoyed about

three years representing Australia in New York. Unfortunately, the Whitlam

Government cut short Denis’ term of office to send one of their own supporters.

Towards the end of our university days, Denis and I helped to rejuvenate the

Royal Australian Navy Reserve Training at HMAS Lonsdale. Each Tuesday

night, we trained young sailors on the parage ground and in seamanship lessons.

On weekends and once a year (thirteen days, we took them to sea on our three

harbour defence vessels. Our thirteen-day trips to Devonport were a highlight.

We were both promoted to Lieutenant Commander in the mid 1950’s and were

awarded the Volunteer Reserve Decoration on New Year’s Day 1963.

On returning to Melbourne, Denis succeeded Sir John Holland as Chairman of

John Holland Ltd., a leading Australian construction company. He was involved

in winning the tender to rebuild the Southern Stand at the MCG and various other

large engineering construction projects. He also rejoined us old footballers on

Sunday mornings on the grass tennis courts at Kooyong.

24

During his overseas postings, he appointed me his Power of Attorney.

Unfortunately our long friendship ended with Denis’ sudden death at home in

Kew on the morning of October 17th, 1990.

Pat wrote to me at the time saying, “Denis was taken from us far too early. As

you know, he loved life and lived it to the full. He still had so much to give

especially to the young.”

To his friends, he was an inspiration; to the younger generation he was a hero.

Denis was a sincere friend, a dedicated achiever, an inspiring athlete and a

physical presence that Hollywood filmmakers would die for. He was a modest

man of high principles who served the community with distinction.

Being a friend of the Cordner family has been a special bonus in my life. Dr

Edward and Mrs Cordner settled in Diamond Creek after World War I. Ted,

Donald, Denis and John grew up in Diamond Creek and Greensborough. They

were all great footballers and cricketers and wonderful human beings. We miss

Ted and Denis, but Don and John are still going well. So also are Pat, Lynette

and Sally of whom Denis was so proud.

25

GEOFF DONALDSON

Born and growing up in Gippsland, I have always been interested in brown coal

and energy. When my family moved to Melbourne, we lived on the corner of

Fordholm Road and Morrison Street, directly across the road from Scotch

College. My mother and father kept a flock of bantams, which frequently

attracted the attention of passers-by. One distinguished schoolmaster, the

geologist Dr Pritchard, frequently stopped to talk to my father about Yallourn and

brown coal.

One day he said to my father, “One day under that brown coal, we will find vast

deposits of oil and gas. I think the prospectors should drill under the sea bed in

Bass Strait”.

How prophetic was Dr Pritchard?

During the 30’s and 40’s, traces of oil and gas were found in Gippsland near

Lakes Entrance, but nothing to indicate vast reserves. Geoff Donaldson a giant

physically, returned from World War II with a sense of mission – to find oil and

natural gas deposits in Australia. He was on of Melbourne’s most entrepreneurial

share brokers and (perhaps influenced by the teachings of geology at Scotch

College) he helped to establish Woodside (Lakes Entrance) Oil Company N. L.

26

In 1954, Geoff became Chairman of the company which acquired leases in many

parts of Eastern Australia.

Throughout the next twenty-five years, the company battled to survive. It was

sustained by sharebroker Donaldson and his loyal clients and by Geoff’s cousin,

John May, an outstanding sharebroker and a colourful risk taker. John was at

school with me and we both served in the Royal Australian Navy during World

War II.

In the early 60’s, the firm of Ian Potter and Co had established a position of

leadership as an underwriter in the capital market. We were particularly involved

in raising funds for the mining industry (CRA, Comalco, Hamersley, Bouganville

Copper, Ashton Diamonds, Alcoa, Western Mining Corporation, CSR, Mt

Newman, Utah Mining, BHP, EZ Industries, Mim Holdings, Broken Hill South,

North Broken Hill, Boral, Newmont, Mt Lyell, etc).

As one of Sir Ian Potter’s partners involved in the underwriting and new capital

raisings, I was thrilled to get a call from time to time from my friend John May

inviting my firm to join May and Mellor in jointly underwriting new capital raisings

for Woodside. Oil exploration can be very expensive and although exciting, it

requires experienced and respected operators who can build up a loyal following

of speculative investors.

By keeping the market fully informed, the drilling company hopes that the

accurate disclosure of current and future prospects will ensure a continuing flow

of new capital.27

Geoff Donaldson and John May were uncanny in gauging the mood of the

speculators in the oil and mining markets. Throughout the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s,

Geoff Donaldson’s optimism and John May’s enthusiasm in the marketplace held

Woodside together. As the company grew, so also did our underwriting risks.

Like Geoff Donaldson, however, we had faith in the company and its geologists

and we were supported in our efforts by a large and loyal group of Australian

shareholders. Donaldson, May, Mellor and Muir were always optimistic, but

never completely foolhardy. Geoff Donaldson’s enthusiasm and dedication was

infectious.

In 1962, the Woodside Geologist, Nicholas Boutakoff suggested to his Board that

a search for oil in the Indian Ocean off the West Australian coast, would be

worthwhile. As a result, Woodside applied for a huge exploration area of

270,000 square miles from the government of Western Australia. It was Geoff’s

masterstroke and it should immortalise him.

Deep drilling needs deep pockets. The area to be surveyed is about three times

as big as the state of Victoria. Woodside prepared for the challenge and the cost

of drilling offshore by inviting Shell and Burmah Oil in and equal partnership was

formed. In 1976, BHP replaced the troubled Burmah Oil in the partnership.

28

Drilling started near Ashmore Reef in the northern extremity of the lease. The

early holes showed promise, but were not productive. In 1971, further south near

Barron Island “The Ocean Digger” drilling water at least 500 feet deep,

encountered a great reservoir of natural gas. The North Rankin Field has proved

to be one of the largest natural gas reservoirs in the world. Because the gas is

almost two miles under the seabed, a huge capital investment was needed to

pipe the gas ashore and pipe it south to Perth where the alumina refineries of

Alcoa were ready and willing to consume the product.

Gradually, as more and more gas was tapped under the northwest shelf seabed,

Woodside and its partners, decided that it had scope to export its energy. By

converting into liquefied natural gas, the produce could be shipped to Japan and

soon Dampier was selected as the seaport and the place on shore where the gas

could be frozen and compressed ready for the giant tankers to take it to overseas

markets.

By 1980, at a cost of $3 billion, the first massive refrigerator was ready. The first

refrigerated ship “Northwest Sanderling” arrived at Port Dampier in July 1989.

Eighteen years after North Rankin was discovered, the first cargo of liquefied

natural gas reached Tokyo Bay. In the foreseeable future, Woodside is likely to

be supplying natural gas to California (the world’s seventh largest economy).

Because the existing $20 billion North West Shelf Project is already fully

committed other Woodside gas fields such as Browse and Pluto (both off the

West Australian coast) and Sunrise in the Timor Sea are likely to be tapped to

supply a liquefying plant sited a few miles off the California coast.

29

Over fifty years, Woodside shares have risen from around fifty cents to today’s

price of $52.00. Shareholders who followed the dream and dedication of Geoff

Donaldson have been justly rewarded. His entrepreneurial spirit and “Never say

die” attitude singles him out as a very special Australian.

As I write about Geoff Donaldson and Woodside, my desk radio’s News Bulletin

has just announced the signing of a deal between Australia and China, which will

result in energy sales to China of $35 to $45 billion. Woodside will supply the

gas from its Browse field!

Well done Geoff Donaldson, you are an Australian Hero!

Bill Rogers, a Director of BHP and a leading commercial lawyer succeeded Geoff

and presided over an era of huge capital investment.

My former partner, Charles Goode, succeeded Bill and he has been a strong

presence in arranging gas and oil export contracts with the Australian

government and Japan, China and hopefully California. Charles Allen and Rick

Charlton from Shell have played a significant role in bringing Woodside to its

present state of profitability. The Woodside success is a triumph for the courage

and daring of the true believers.

30

SIR EDWARD DUNLOP

On 15th of August 1995 with thousands of other veterans and about 50,000 warm

and friendly Melbournians, I celebrated the 50th anniversary of the end of World

War II.

As John Hamilton reported in the “Herald-Sun”, “This was the day when

Melbourne basked in the warmth of freedom. It was simply the happiest day in

Melbourne for fifty years”.

It was a family day when the city wore its heart on its sleeve shedding silent tears

of remembrance before openly wiping tears of happiness from its cheeks and

breaking out into one big wonderful smile.

It was a day of symbolism when older Australians’ medals clinking, handed the

torch of freedom for which they fought on to a younger generation of Australians.”

No matter where we were born, we were all proud Australians that day.

After the march, we veterans who were thousands of miles away when

Melbourne celebrated V. P. Day in 1945, felt like heroes.

31

I made a pilgrimage to the newly unveiled statue of Weary Dunlop standing tall

and dignified on the edge of the Domain. It was very moving to be with him again

and to reflect on his courage and humanity. As Tom Uren said of his fellow

prisoner of war – “He was the tallest tree in the forest”. Weary became a symbol

of courageous leadership and a champion in post war Australia for all who

suffered with him on the Burmah Railway and in prisoner of war camps.

I knew him best when we both served the Anti-Cancer Council of Victoria (now

the Cancer Council of Victoria). For twenty years, he signed the appeal letters

for the Appeal Committee, which I chaired. In spite of his busy medical practice,

“Weary” was always available and contributed most effectively.

He was fun to be with, told great stories, quoted the classics and loved talking

sport. He had a dry sense of humour.

In 1970, when Bernard O’Brien was establishing the Micro Surgery Research

Foundation, “Weary” and I joined the board under the chairmanship of Sir William

Kilpatrick. “Weary” never missed a meeting and when we were raising funds to

build the research centre, he worked tirelessly. One day, he and I called on the

then Premier, Dick Hamer, to ask the State Government for $250,000. From the

start of the meeting it was obvious that the two soldiers admired each other

enormously. For the first twenty minutes we revisited WW2 and it was quite

inspirational stuff for me as a sailor to hear the Army in full cry. With five minutes

to go we asked for $250,000 to help fund the Micro Surgery Research Centre at

St. Vincent’s. Yes you’ve guessed it – thanks to Weary, we came away with an

offer of $500,000.32

Our monthly meetings of the Micro-Surgery Board were held in Bernard O’Brien’s

rooms on Wellington Parade. At one of the meetings, as Chairman, I was seated

with my back to the first floor window. The Board was assembled, except for

“Weary”. After about twenty minutes, we all ducked to the floor as shrapnel hit

our windows. Keeping down after the second attack, I peeked below and there

on the pavement was “Weary” throwing twenty-cent pieces to attract Bernard to

the fact that the building was locked. We duly let him in and apologised. He was

not fazed and he proceeded to make a strong contribution. “Weary” was a great

lateral thinker and a stimulating friend.

Like Bernard O’Brien, an entrepreneurial surgeon, “Weary” had his detractors.

They were usually medical people and in recent years, being one of those who

revered his wartime exploits, I have asked why?

“Weary”, a pharmacist and then a University of Melbourne medical graduate,

went to the U. K. and then into the AIF in the Middle East without much

experience in surgery. He organised and led various medical units and later

became a Commanding Officer in his own right. He was innovative and survivor

who stood up to the challenges of his captors in a heroic way.

Sir Albert Coates and others were the best surgeons. “Weary” was the optimist

who found ways to survive and to endure. He inspired whilst others conducted

33

surgical miracles. He was a leader in the right place at the right time. His critics

were saying he was an inexperienced surgeon, who had not qualified to surgical

greatness. No doubt they had a point, but he proved to be a natural leader and

an inspiration to those P. O. W’s who were otherwise without hope.

Incidentally, I have never heard “Weary” criticize his captors. Nor have I ever

seen a medical surgery as crowded as “Weary’s” in Parliament Place.

34

DR MICHAEL GORE

In the early 80’s, whilst serving on the Council of the Australian National

University, I was attracted to the vision of a young scientist who came to one of

our Council meetings to report for his Dean on the Science Faculty. As he was

being ushered out, he said, “I think the ANU should take “hands on” science into

the community to give young Australians the opportunity to learn and be

involved. The Chancellor with his eye on the agenda said, “Thank You”. I rose

in my place and said, “Chancellor don’t let us end here for this is only the

beginning. The ANU needs community relevance and Michael Gore has just

suggested a way in which we can serve the nation. I would like to bring private

sector help to make this happen”.

The Chancellor (a wonderful Australian) said he would welcome my support of Dr

Gore and his project. I talked to Michael whose enthusiasm was most infectious.

He had located a disused state school at Ainslie, which was centrally located and

already had a plan to train post-graduate science students at the ANU as

demonstrators.

Together we went scrounging for equipment, models, corporate involvement, etc.

Within twelve months, Questacon was a reality. In September 1980, Questacon

opened with fifteen exhibits as a project of the Australian National University in

the vacant space at Ainslie Public School in Canberra, staffed entirely by

volunteers.

35

It was Australia’s first interactive “hands on” science centre dedicated to making

science accessible and relevant to all.

With the support of Michael Gore, our interim Director, I approached Shell

Australia seeking their involvement in transporting our science show around

Australia and in 1985, The Shell Questacon Science Circus began touring

regional Australia. At about the same time, Michael and I called on the Minister

for Science, Hon. Barry Jones, to tell him our plans to take science to the young

people of Australia. He was both interested and enthusiastic. So much so that I

suggested that it was time we had a National Gallery, the National Library, the

High Court, etc. Barry asked for a formal submission for the consideration of the

Federal Cabinet.

In due course, Advisory Council was formed, chaired by the late Sir Ian

McLennan. I was Ian’s Deputy and other members were: Neil Currie, Baillieu

Myer, Brian Finn, Claudio Alcorso and Mary Hardy.

The Federal Government agreed to the construction of the new centre and

Michael Gore was appointed Executive Director. Sir Ian recommended the

addition of the word “Technology” to our name. The National Science and

Technology Centre was constructed by the NCDC (and its builders and

architects) as a Bicentennial Project to celebrate Australia’s 150th birthday. The

Advisory Council was required to manage the centre and the “Questacon

36

Outreach Program”. We were encouraged to assist in setting up similar centres

in each state and to act as big brother if required in the southwest Pacific area.

We again scrounged for sponsors to build and equip the centre. A surprise

sponsor arrived in the form of the Japanese Government. With Australia’s

Bicentennial in mind, our former adversary, wished to make a significant gift to

the Australian people to mark the occasion. After much discussion, the

Australian Government was offered about $13 million by the Japanese

Government to cover half the cost of the new centre with the proviso that it be

named “The Australia/Japan Centre” (and be surrounded by cherry trees gifted

by Japan). Although there followed some diplomatic embarrassment, our

advisory council persuaded the Minister that the Japanese flag and presence in

the Parliamentary Triangle was not appropriate.

In spite of our rejection of the joint naming rights, Japan generously provided the

funds and was given appropriate attribution on the property. The centre opened

during the 1988 celebrations and has proved a great success thanks to the

talents of Mike Gore and his ANU team.

Shell’s magnificent pantechnicons continue to roll around outback Australia

bringing science and joy to thousands of Australians.

All states of Australia and the Northern Territory now have well attended science

centres.37

In addition, Michael Gore helped to establish an Australian coordinating group to

assist in exhibit exchanges with Singapore Malaysia and various Pacific Islands.

In succession to Sir Ian McLennan and Neil Currie, Brian Finn chaired the

Advisory Board and as CEO of IBM Australia, he attracted exhibits from the

computer, IT and telephone companies. BHP and the other mining houses, ICI

and, of course, Shell have been great supporters.

It is inspiring to visit the centre as busloads of eager and bright young Australians

arrive for a day of hands on learning and fun.

The 2005-2006 Annual Report of Questacon, Australia’s National Science and

Technology Centre, states that since opening in 1988, Questacon has been

visited by over 6 million people. After twenty-one years, the Shell Questacon

Science Circus is the most extensive and longest running science outreach

program in the world. This year there were 1,435,641 visitors in person or on line

(407,000 to Canberra in person and 328,000 to Questacon outreach). The

Questacon team made presentations to 1973 Australian schools.

Questacon now employs 232 full time and part-time staff and continues to be

assisted by many loyal volunteers. The Federal Government continues to

provide generously for the financial needs of the centre.

38

Mike Gore, the ANU, the Federal Government, Shell and other corporate

sponsors, the Advisory Council and the staff deserve special praise for making

Questacon a national icon.

39

DAVID HAINS

In 1950, after completing a law degree at the University of Melbourne, I was

privileged to be an Articled Clerk to Eric Aston Lloyd, Senior Partner of Davies,

Campbell and Piesse. Eric Lloyd was always willing to advise and assist young

enthusiastic people with vision and purpose. One day in the office, he introduced

me to David Hains and his partner, Max Flockart, both of whom were 19 year old

graduates in engineering from Brighton Technical School. They wished to

incorporate a company to import and manufacture washing machines. The

company Oriol Industries was soon up and running with the blessing of Mr Lloyd

and Sir Arthur Warner, owner of the Astor Radio business.

A year or two later, my brother wrote from Harvard introducing a young Canadian

couple (both economists) who were coming to join the staff of the commerce

faculty at the University of Melbourne.

My wife, Ruth, helped Sarrah and Syd Chernick settle into Melbourne. One day,

Sarrah rang to say they had bought an Oriol washing machine and to her

amazement, whenever there was a problem, the Managing Director came to

service the machine. She was most impressed by David and Max, little knowing

there were no other employees of the young venture. Picking a name from the

telephone book, David and Max established next a chain of electrical and

whitegoods stores (Peter Kaye). Funding was obtained by the issue of

unsecured notes, the security being a floating charge over the business.

40

The company grew rapidly and by the late 50’s, Peter Kaye operated over eighty

stores throughout Victoria. The economic downturn of 1960 combined with high

interest rates threatened consumer demand and the two proprietors decided to

reduce the size of the operation.

By 1962, they had paid off their debts and were left with some property assets.

At the end of the exercise, David Hains said to me “Laurie, I will never go public

again”. Since then from his office in Collins Street, David has worked with his

family and a few loyal staff members building his private investment bank

“Portland House Group” into one of Australia’s most successful private

companies.

Starting with inner suburban industrial property purchases, David gradually

expanded his investments to interests in the North Sea Oil Fields, the US steel

industry and with one of his sons based in London, he became a very active

share market investor and trader on Wall Street, in London and on the Australian

Stock Exchange.

In May 2007, David’s hedge fund was estimated by the “Business Review

Weekly” to be worth more than $2 billion and his family fortune to be $2.6 billion.

He is such a modest and private man that estimating his achievements will

always be understated. David has a passion for thoroughbred racehorses and

has been one of Australia’s most successful owners and breeders.41

At his Kingston Park Stud, he bred Kingston Town who won the Cox Plate – our

premier weight for age race three times. He subsequently bred and raced the

Melbourne Cup Winner “Kingston Rule” and the Victoria Derby Winner “Portland

Player”. David and his lovely wife, Helen, have always been proud of the

achievements of their five children. Many dream of a successful family business,

but few achieve this dream. The success of Portland House is a tribute to the

whole Hains family – David, Helen, Kathy and the four boys.

Success has not changed David, he is still a modest, gentle and charming man.

I visited him recently on behalf of the Baker Medical Research Institute to ask his

advice on developing a partnership with the racing industry. He had many

helpful suggestions and then offered to pick out his best yearling to be trained by

Colin Hayes and when ready to race in the colours of the Baker Medical

Research Institute. He added wryly, “Of course, Laurie sometimes even the best

bred horses don’t win often”.

Recently David has expanded his interest in breeding thoroughbred horses. This

is good news for one of Australia’s largest industries and one, which has

traditionally grown through the substantial investment of wealthy and dedicated

families.

42

DOUGLAS SAMUEL HEYWOOD

We bonded at school, two redheads from the country playing the Under 15 A’s.

Doug Heywood came from Seymour where his father, Sam, was a cattle farmer

and his mother was a leading figure in the community. He impressed us all when

as a new boarder at Scotch, he starred at tennis, football and cricket. Apart from

his natural ability, he had an amazing will to win. We enjoyed our under 15 year

together, but we lost Heywood from our Under 16 team because his talent was

such that he was included in the 1st XVIII in 1940. For the next three years he

played on the half forward line for the school team. He kicked lots of goals and

was rarely beaten. In 1941 and 1942, I played with him and was able to watch

his wizardry at firsthand. He had sticky fingers and a deadly accurate left foot.

Doug captained our champion Scotch side of 1942 and also opened the batting

for the First Eleven. He won the school tennis championship in 1941 and 1942.

With his great friend, Mick Clark, he also won the 1942 Victorian Schoolboys

Doubles title. Sadly Mick was killed in the Air force in World War II.

Doug was also a good middle distance runner and the two redheads had a ding-

dong battle for supremacy in the 1941 Open Mile Race.

He was a competent student doing particularly well in the commercial subjects.

He was Captain of his house in 1942 and a dedicated and much respected

prefect.

43

On leaving school, Doug joined the RAAF hoping to become a pilot.

Unfortunately, he was deemed to be colour blind and was assigned to ground

crew. He served in various parts of Australia and was discharged from Darwin in

early 1946.

He entered the University of Melbourne in March 1946 and as I was still away on

naval service, he lived with my parents in Hawthorn. Later he lived in Arthur

Robinson House and did part time House Master duties. My parents were very

fond of Doug and his sisters and treated them as family. Doug starred in the

Blacks’ 1946 team, which did not lose a game. He played in the University

Tennis team in 1947 and was awarded Blues for both sports. In 1948, he was

again a dominating forward in the Blacks’ third post-war premiership team. He

often scored six goals from the half forward flank.

He and Denis Cordner were outstanding players in the 1948 University Football

Carnival played on the Adelaide Oval. On returning from that Premiership, these

two great players were involved in our loss to Old Melbournians in the Amateur

Football Final and our Grand Final win the following Saturday. A week later, they

were both included in the Melbourne Footballs Club’s Grand Final team to play

Essendon. This epic match ended a draw and Melbourne won the replay the

following week.

It has been suggested that never in the history of football have so many grand

finals been played by two footballers in one season.44

The great Donald Cordner was Captain and a star ruckman in the successful

Melbourne team. He was also a Brownlow Medallist.

Doug continued to play for Melbourne for the next few years. On one occasion

when playing with the Reserves, he conspired with Noel McMahon to defy his

Captain Coach (the late and great, Jack Mueller) by chasing kicks (rather as

players do today). He ended up with forty-three possessions and was much

relieved when big Jack embraced him at siren time.

After a period of training at Beaurepairs, he joined the spaghetti making

subsidiary of Henry Berry. In the mid 1960’s, Doug was invited by Jim Lewis to

join his family food and packaging company “Renown and Pearlite”. He became

Managing Director on Jim’s retirement and expanded the plastics and packaging

activities.

Doug managed to marry his love of sport and sport stars with his business. He

recognised the appeal that prominent sportsmen would have to his consumers

and he developed both a management team and a marketing group of sporting

greats. Thanks to the talents of Roy Wright, Bobby Skilton, Bluey Adams, Len

Thomson, Neale Balme, Reg Gaznier, Bobby Davis and others, the business

grew rapidly.

Whilst he was building Renown and Pearlite, Doug joined Norman Banks and

Michael Williamson to call the football on the weekend on Radio 3AW. He 45

covered tennis for the ABC with his friend Clark Hansen. For almost thirty years,

be combined his active business career with sports casting, both on ABC radio

and television. He was a regular panellist and a most respected commentator. A

regular highlight was his annual coverage of Wimbledon and the Australian

Tennis Open with Clark Hansen.

Doug was a wordsmith with a passion for all sports. His exquisite phrasing,

delightful descriptive passages and love of true champions made listening to

Heywood a special pleasure. He was a very popular member of the Australian

sports media. He was admired for his integrity, his knowledge and his

eloquence.

By the time Doug and his team had build Renown and Pearlite into a leading

place in polythene extrusion in Australia, both his supplier of raw material

(ICIANZ) and his largest packaging competitor (AMCOR) began to show interest

in acquisition.

I was somewhat embarrassed when AMCOR asked me to negotiate with Doug

and Jim. AMCOR wanted the business and were prepared to offer a substantial

number of AMCOR shares provided Doug would stay for at least fives years to

manage the business. Jim and Doug were not easy to woo. They enjoyed their

independence and privacy. The thought of having to answer to the AMCOR

Board concerned them. In the end, a deal was done, making both Jim and Doug

very wealthy. Jim moved on, but Doug continued to grow the business and 46

mostly to tolerate his new owners. Alan Scurrie, Stan Wallis, Ken Wraith and

Hugh Rogers from AMCOR learnt a lot from their dealings with Heywood and

Lewis. When it was time for Doug to retire, I was able to persuade Bruce

Lithgow, a friend and a leading Melbourne Chartered Accountant, to arbitrate

Doug’s termination arrangements.

Apart from sport and business, Doug was a great family man, a keen member of

the MCG Committee and for many years, the Chairman of the Australian Gallery

of Sport. He was justifiably proud of the Gee and the Gallery of Sport. He

developed great friendships at the MCG with Lindsay Thomson, Ian Johnson,

John Lill, Geoff Collie, Paul Sheahan, David Jones, Darryl Jackson, Peter

French, John Mitchell, Bruce Church, John Cain and, of course, Donald and

Denis Cordner.

Doug died after some months of illness in 2002. He was a quiet achiever, a great

family man and a very warm friend. He was one of those outstanding sportsmen

of his era, who showed us how you can take sportsmanship and athletic talent

into business with dignity, grace and a successful outcome. He did this with

typical determination and style. He provided opportunities for many sporting men

and women to show their prowess in the business arena. He will be remembered

for these achievements for his sense of teamwork and his dedication to his

workmates, his family and friend.

47

RUPERT MURDOCH

Early in 1945, my Corvette HMAS Maryborough was in dock in Port Adelaide,

prior to rejoining the British Pacific fleet for the final push to Japan and Hong

Kong. A local gentleman walking along the pier with his two young sons, asked if

they could inspect the ship. As O. O. D., I was happy to show them around. The

boys showed tremendous interest in our radar and ASDIC equipment, our Depth

Charge “Y” Gun and our Bofors and Oerlikon Anti-Aircraft guns. Father was

more interested in the engine room and the Matthew Flinders charts that had so

successfully taken us round most parts of the southwest Pacific.

Father Kinnear was the advertising manager of the Adelaide based News Ltd

and he and his sones (Rod and Bryce I think) kindly invited me to visit the

newspaper offices the next day. I enjoyed watching the paper being put together

little knowing that in a few years time the major proprietor Sir Keith Murdoch

would bequeath his shares in News Limited to his family and it would be the

springboard from which the brace and bold Rupert Murdoch would build News

Corporation into the world’s most prominent media empire.

Rupert Murdoch is one of the most energetic people on this earth. He moves in

business with lightening speed and a bold, almost audacious desire to win. He

has rarely, if ever, been hampered by the need to consult others. Although News

Corporation is one of the world’s largest and most profitable corporations, Rupert

48

controls its destiny as though he is the sole proprietor. His aggressive takeover

strategies have produced some classic fights with opponents such as Bill Gates,

Newt Gingrich, John Malone, Michael Eisner, Ted Turner, Gerry Levin, Ron

Perelman and even Tony Blair, the former British Prime Minister. He is a master

strategist, picking targets that will position News Corporation as a winner in the

race for global media control. He is fearless about borrowing money from banks

and almost reckless when one considers his company’s debt/equity ratio. Having

said that, share holders have done so well there is unlikely to be any opposition

from his followers. Some of Rupert’s expansion moves have been brilliant and

they reflect his entrepreneurial genius. His successes continue to outstrip his

failures.

Rupert did Australia a great favour when over thirty years ago, he first published

the Canberra-based nation newspaper “The Australian”. For many years, the

paper was not profitable, but he showed great integrity in maintaining it as our

national daily. The Australian has a coverage of national and international news

and remains a high quality publication. Twice during the late 70’s and early 80’s,

Rupert launched takeover offers for Melbourne-based “Herald and Weekly

Times”. During the 1978 attack, I was actively involved as Senior Partner of

Potter Partners in defending the Herald from Rupert’s bid which the Herald Board

deemed both hostile and inadequate in price ($4 per share from memory). The

battle for control moved to the floor of the Stock Exchange. Rupert was being

advised by my friend and former partner, Keith Halkerston, a brilliant young

merchant banker who knows too much about his opponent.

49

By enlisting the buying power of the associated companies, the Adelaide

Advertiser and the Queensland Press Group, we gradually won the battle. When

ready to withdraw, Rupert and Keith cleverly changed brokers (to John May, my

friend) and sold all the shares they had acquired to Potters at a slight profit!

Rupert was valiant in defeat ringing me the next day to say, “Well done! You

beat me”.

After retirement from Potters in 1980, Sir Keith Macpherson invited me to join the

Herald Board. In 1984, Keith was succeeded by my friend John Dahlsen, as

Chairman. About the same time, John joined the board of Robert Holmes A

Court’s Bell Group (his flagship). Before long, Mr Holmes A Court was telling the

world that he had a plan to rearrange the Herald Group with particular interest in

the West Australian assets. He argued publicly that the Australian Government

should legislate to break up the concentrated media ownership in Australia and

posed as one player who could help in the process. Rupert Murdoch spends the

long weekend of November 1986 in his retreat near Aspen reading cuttings from

Australia. On the Sunday night, he called me at home to ask what Mr Holmes A

Court was up to? “Was it time to make another offer for the Herald Group”. I

responded that I was not comfortable with Mr Holmes A Court’s suggestion of a

break up. We agreed that although the West Australian was probably just

posturing for reasons of personal gain, he could destabilise our company. My

advice to Rupert was that he should move quickly if he was interested with a fully

50

priced offer of cash, but with a share alternative so that our shareholders could

continue to hold an equity in the expanded group.

News Corporation was made on Wednesday! It was a great offer (eventually

worth $15 per Herald share) and as a board member, I wished to have it

recommended to our shareholders as soon as possible. My Chairman and some

of my board colleagues were concerned about losing control of the company and

being dominated by Rupert.

Standing outside the Herald office with a group of journalists around him, Mr

Holmes A Court was pictured contemplating a counter offer. His posturing had

the market on edge. He held talks with our Chairman, but no offer came.

The share market really likes the deal and I argued that the board had a duty to

submit the offer to our shareholders. The excellent price, plus the opportunity for

all shareholders to continue as owners, convinced me that we should

recommend acceptance.

As time went by, I was concerned that Rupert might lose patience and then

withdraw his offer. To break the deadlock, I took my own initiative by accepting

the offer for my personal shareholding and advising the Stock Exchange

accordingly. This lead was following by hundreds of other small shareholders

and later by the bulk of our institutional investors. Rupert soon took control and I

51

am happy to say those who stayed with their News Corporation shares have

gone from strength to strength.

Rupert Murdoch is surely a leading player in the communications revolution that

promises to transform life on our planet in the 21st century. Apart from providing

great stock market wealth to his shareholders, he has bestowed a great deal of

wealth on his wonderful mother (a great Australian) and his family members.

His influence in international affairs, the environment, local politics, and current

affairs is profound. He is surely a character Orson Welles would enjoy playing.

52

DR BERNARD O’BRIEN

We first me on the football field on a murky winter’s morning when the Xavier

Under 14’s played the Scotch Under 14’s. He was small but determined and

blessed with the “never say die” attitude of the fighting Irish.

After school, I went for four years to Her Majesty’s Royal Australian Navy whilst

Bernard was a medical student at the University of Melbourne. He was a

competent athlete but failing to win the sprints, he was not sure how to make his

mark in University athletics. He noticed a lack of application in the Pole Vault

and I am told he went out and bought a pole and became the champion of the

University of Melbourne. His dedication and disciplined approach to athletics

and life was on show. His friends often called him “champ”.

Bernard was regarded as our top Hand Surgeon when he and I met up, he was

highly regarded at St Vincent’s Hospital where he always has a love hate

relationship. One of his early supporters was Sir William Kilpatrick, who chaired

the Microsurgery Research Foundation when it was established in 1970. Weary

Dunlop, two great St Vincent’s colleagues (Dr Clareborough and Dr Henderson),

Gerard Crock and I formed the rest of the Board.

By about 1975, I was the Chairman and Bernard wanted to build a new research

facility at St Vincent’s. Against all the odds we were required by the

entrepreneurial Bernard to launch a public appeal.53

Asking for money to support the construction of a new research building on the

Sisters of Charity property was not easy. Dealing the Sisters was a challenge but

also a joy. Bernard was intolerant of all who stood in his way. He was a man on

a mission.

In 1978, the Board of the Microsurgery Foundation of Victoria launched an

appeal to raise $500,000 to build a research centre on the site owned by the

Sisters of Charity adjoining St Vincent’s Hospital.

In launching the Appeal, Bernard O’Brien the Director of the Foundation and of

the St Vincent’s Microsurgery Unity appealed to the public to support the fund

raising venture because after eighteen years of microsurgery development at the

hospital, a research centre was urgently needed.

He said that the St Vincent’s unit had trained surgeons from more than fifty

countries.

“More than 4,000 microsurgery operations have so far been performed for

trauma, cancer, burns, facial paralysis, congenital abnormalities as well as for

industrial and home accidents”.

“These operations have consisted not only of the reimplantation of severed

fingers and limbs, but also more commonly of the transfer of toes, ring fingers,

muscles, tendons, small joints and long bones to various parts of the body”.54

“Many tissues have been transferred in combination, such as skin, fat, bones and

muscles”.

Our Appeal was assisted by some press publicity telling of some miracle surgery,

which reattached a small boy’s foot and a Murrumbeena mother’s hand.

When the new research centre was completed, an extra floor was added for

future expansion. Bernard was interested in every aspect of reconstructive

surgery. Almost every Sunday (after Sunday mass), Bernard would ring me with

his list of things he needed his Chairman to do. Lobbying for Commonwealth

and State grants, soothing relations with the St Vincent’s management, achieving

publicity for our fundraising appeal, talking to the charitable foundations were

regular items on the list.

Towards the end of the 1980’s, I retired as Chairman and was succeeded by

Alan Skurrie who served with distinction. Then came Ronald Walker, who is still

in office and who has presided over a great period of growth. His skill in raising

awareness and funds has been outstanding. The Barbara Walker Pain

Management Centre now occupies the spare floor and is doing outstanding work.

Bernard was a prolific researcher and writer during his busy years as our leading

plastic surgeon. Like Weary Dunlop, he sometimes was criticized by his peers

because of the publicity that surrounded some of the surgical miracles that his

microsurgery unit at St Vincent’s were able to achieve. The unit was innovative 55

and brave and there were many world firsts in their efforts to reattach limbs.

Bernard’s eyesight troubled him in his last ten years. He remained in charge of

his operating theatre, but like any good general he supervised a team of brilliant

young surgeons whom he had trained over the years. Outstanding amongst

these were Prof. Allan Macleod and Prof. Wayne Morrison who succeeded

Bernard as Director of the Unit and the Microsurgery Research Foundation.

In 1990, Bernard and his team operated on me to remove a life threatening

melanoma from by back. There were five world-class surgeons and two

anaesthetists on duty that day. They managed to remove the cancer without it

entering the lymph system. Bernard insisted on two years of chemotherapy as

an insurance measure. Seventeen years on I say thank you to Bernard and his

team everyday.

In the mid eighties, Bernard asked me to propose our friend and Board

colleague, Sir Edward Dunlop for the highest honour in the Order of Australia.

This I duly organised. Each year thereafter Bernard would ring me when Weary’s

name was missing from the Australia Day or the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.

After five years, I reluctantly agreed to call the Secretary of the Honours

Secretariat. I was informed in confidence that the nomination had been

considered but rejected because the committee felt the candidate had not

contributed enough since his Knighthood. After discussion with the “never say

die” Bernard, I made a fresh submission emphasising Weary’s dedicated and

continuing work for his ex POW’s, his service on the Cancer Council, the 56

Microsurgery Research Foundation and a raft of worthy causes. My submission

ended with the words:

“In my opinion, Sir Edward Dunlop is probably the greatest living Australia”.

I am pleased to say a few years before his death, Weary was honoured with an

A. C. Bernard, also an A. C., was overjoyed.

Bernard died peacefully on 14th August 1993. His lovely wife, Joan, wrote to me

as follows:

“Dear Laurie,

We are missing him keenly. His sense of humour and energy kept us all on our

toes and we are a bit adrift without him. Your telephone must surely be a little

less busy now too.

I recall Bernie so often saying “I must ring Laurie” and my remonstrating – to no

avail – that is was Sunday lunchtime.

May I thank you most gratefully for all the tremendous support you gave Bernie

and the Foundation. He relied on you and always spoke of you with affection”.

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As a tribute to Bernie, the Visionary Scientist and Reconstructive Surgeon, the

Microsurgery Board adopted the new title the “Bernard O’Brien Institute of

Microsurgery”. The Institute and the hundreds of brilliant young doctors from all

over the world who trained there stand as Bernard’s legacy to our nation.

The champ would never say die.

58

JAMES PACKER

We first me at the initial board meeting of the newly listed Australian consolidated

Press Group Limited in 1992. Kerry chaired the meeting and James sat

opposite. I was impressed at the outset by the warmth of the rapport between

father and son and the depth of knowledge both had of our magazine business.

Richard Walsh, our Managing Director, told me after the meeting how impressed

he was with James who at the ripe young age of 24 had already spent six or

seven years in Kerry’s businesses.

James Packer is physically imposing, bigger in fact than his father and

intellectually just as strong. He is probably the most numerate person I know (or

at least ranking with Kerry’s great friend Lloyd Williams). Like his father, James

has real presence and like his mother and sister, he has a charming personality.

He commands respect because of his business acumen and admiration because

of his warmth and friendliness.

Kerry Packer deserves special praise for the training and guidance he has given

James. He exposed his son at every level of his business empire and

encouraged him to contribute with ideas and innovations. James has travelled

extensively with his father and is well acquainted with Kerry’s powerful friends in

the USA, the UK and Asia. James for his part, has been a well-disciplined and

keen learner. After the merger of ACP and Channel Nine, James served as

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Chief Executive Officer of Publishing and Broadcasting Ltd and in 1998, he

became Executive Chairman. Throughout the 90’s, he studied closely the global

communications revolution and played a leading role in positioning PBL in the

most profitable areas of the new media. His close association with Lachlan

Murdoch and the content, which Channel Nine had to offer, enabled PBL to

become a partner with News Ltd, Telstra and in Foxtel. PBL has 25% of Foxtel

and 50% of Fox Sports. Both are leaders in pay TV in Australia with well over a

million subscribers and an accelerating growth rate.

James took responsibility for the “One Tel” investment and losses incurred by

PBL. However, I have reminded him that it was a unanimous board decision.

Not Mia Culpa, but Wea Culpa!

In any event, he more than recovered our losses from one Tel by finding “Seek

Limited” which was floated in 2005 with PBL owning a 30% stake and James as

Chairman. The PBL stake in this Internet employment group is currently worth

about $265 million and growing.

PBL has Bill Gates as its partner in Australia – thanks to the early recognition of

the IT revolution by Kerry, James and management.

In 1998, when Crown Ltd needed a further capital injection, Lloyd Williams invited

his friend and sometime racing partner, Kerry Packer to purchase a half interest

in Crown for his family investment arm Consolidated Press Holdings Ltd. When 60

Kerry looked at the opportunity, he recognised that the tax losses in Crown could

best be helpful to the public company, Publishing and Broadcasting Limited.

Kerry then offered Lloyd and his shareholders a total acquisition of Crown by the

issue of PBL shares and some cash. Once the transaction was completed and

approval was obtained from the Victorian Gaming Authority, James replaced

Lloyd as Chairman and Kerry and others from PBL joined the Crown board.

From the outset, Kerry (the gambler) like what he saw at Crown and James (the

non-gambler) was soon impressed by the potential for growth in Australia’s finest

entertainment centre. With Kerry battling ill health, James and his CEO, Peter

Yates, played an increasingly active role in the PBL and Crown expansion.

Kerry was keen to see the group reduce its debt level and the board concurred

with this concept. When the opportunity to purchase Burswood (the Perth-based

Casino and hotel complex) management had a challenge to convince the board

and particularly Kerry, to change tack. Rowen Craigie, James and Peter were

very enthusiastic.

At a board dinner at Kerry’s home, I was asked by management to put to Kerry

the case for buying Burswood. Rowen’s briefing was very compelling. My

speech went something like this: “Kerry, I think we should buy Burswood, which

is a unique gaming and entrainment complex, crying out for new management

and upgrading. Our team is ready for the new challenge. Burswood is close to

Asia and when revamped will prove attractive to the Asian high rollers. At the 61

offer price proposed by management, we should be able to recoup our outlay

within five years. We believe the West Australian Government would welcome

the Crown initiative and would be cooperative in our expansion. Above all, our

management team needs fresh challenges and the West Australian economy is

booming”.

After others had spoken, Kerry agreed but on condition that the proposed bid

price was never to be increased. Peter Yates accepted this, but was frustrated

when there were few early acceptances. He asked the board for a little

discretion, but Kerry said no. Unfortunately, the confrontation, which followed,

caused Peter to resign. He is now operating his own finance group. In the end,

both men were right. PBL’s bid was successful at the original bid price and the

market as with the Crown deal approved of the acquisition. Since then, Rowan’s

team led in Perth by David Courtney and the new board at Burswood, chaired by

James, has doubled the profitability of Burswood.

In recent years, James, his CEO John Alexander and Rowen Craigie, have

concentrated on the development of new casinos in Macau, Canada, and the

U.K. There is also a development in Las Vegas on the planning board. Apart

from bank loans, the new gaming developments will be paid for by the sale of

75% of Channel Nine and other “old” media assets. James plans to hold on to

PBL’s “new” media assets and to make gaming a major earner for the future.

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Later this year, PBL will be split into two separate public companies, Crown

Limited and consolidated Media Holdings, which will be separately listed on the

Australian Stock Exchange and in the case of Crown, probably on the NASDAQ.

Since Kerry’s death, James as Executive Chairman, has strengthened the board

and shifted the focus of PBL away from the “old” media to gaming and the “new”

media. In the process, the group has become more international and is now one

of Australia’s few multi-national organisations.

PBL, after the proposed de-merger will be well positioned for future grown

inspired by its dynamic leader, James Packer.

James works well with the investment bankers of our time and is receptive to

proposals, which will hasten the growth of his companies. He is becoming a

global entrepreneur and already demonstrates some of the deal making flair in

the international scene, which has made Rupert Murdoch the most significant

media figure of his time.

It has been an honour to serve on the PBL and Crown Boards and to be

privileged to watch the emergence of James Packer.

At 40, Kerry’s son and heir, has the ball at his feel and many, many fans

barracking for him.

63

SIR ARVI PARBO

The Soviet Union did Australia a great turn when in 1940 the Baltic State of

Estonia was annexed. Young Arvi Parbo of Tallinn “preferred not to live under

the Soviet System”. Those who wished to escape, who could not boat to

Sweden took the land route to Germany.

From 1946-1948, Arvi attended a mining academy in Germany. In the late 40’s,

he served time in a migrant camp in Adelaide. In early 1954, he won a

scholarship to Adelaide University. He graduated with First Class Honours in

1955! Not a bad effort by a migrant boy bereft of family, in a new country fleeing

from Hitler and communism. Western Mining Corporation employed Arvi as an

Underground Surveyor at Bullfinch in April 1956. His management and mining

skills were such that by 1971, Arvi became Managing Director of WMC and in

1974, Chairman.

In the 60’s, Western Mining Company and Aluminium Coy of America formed

Alcoa of Australia to mine and refine bauxite from the Darling Ranges deposit.

Sir Arvi succeeded the legendary Sir Lindsay Clark and Sir James Forrest as

Chairman of Alco and was appoint a Director of the parent Aluminium Coy of

America. In 1987, he became a Director of BHP and Chairman in 1989.

I was privileged to serve with him on the Alcoa Board and marvelled at his

efficiency and commonsense approach to all the issues.

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Sir Arvi’s business wisdom attracted many board and advisory invitations. Since

1995 he has served on the Advisory Council of the China International

Investment Corporation (CITIC). He has also been an advisor to Blake Dawson

Waldron and P.A. Consulting Group and from 1987 – 1992 he was a Director of

Broken Hill Pty. Co and Chairman in the last three years. For many years he

chaired the Munich Reinsurance Co. Aust. Ltd. And the Zurich Australia

Insurance Group. He also served on the Chase AMP Bank Ltd. He has been

honoured at many levels for his contribution to the mining industry, to business

and to the community.

Last year I sent him the rather disturbing “Gala and accelerating climate change”

papers from the science show of September 2, 2006. Arvi sent in reply the other

side of the argument with the comment that the possibility that the world would

come to an end fascinated people ever since they appear on earth.

He referred to the conversation of Gary Alexander once a leading spokesman for

the Dooms Day Theories who now calls himself a recovering apocaholic. In April

2007 Alexander spoke to an Atlanta conference highlighting a series of dire

predictions about the earths future, which have not come to pass.

Sir Arvi’s words of wisdom on the planets future strike an encouraging balance.

He does not challenge climate change – “It always has and always will”. The

issue he believes is whether carbon dioxide emissions arising from human

activities unless checked will cause disastrous global warming. Sir Arvi reminds 65

us that by far the most important so-called greenhouse gas is water vapour,

which is responsible for most of the Greenhouse Effect. By comparison carbon

dioxide is a minor greenhouse gas.

Sir Arvi quotes Ray Evans and the Lavosier Group of scientists who claim the

annual emissions of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere as a result of human

activities are at present less than 4 percent of the natural annual emissions from

the biosphere and the oceans. Sir Arvi commends all efforts to reduce human

polluting but he reminds us that the 96 percent is controlled by the biosphere,,

the oceans, the solar radiation and magnetism and not mankind.

Hence many scientists contend that periodical changes in solar radiation and

magnetism have the most influence on our climate. They predict that the solar

activity of the last 100 years is coming to an end and the global cooling will soon

begin.

I applaud the wisdom and balance of Sir Arvi Parbo – a truly great Australian.

66

RICHARD PRATT

Born in Poland in the troubled Europe of 1934, Richard Pratt migrated to

Australia with his parents in 1938. The family were amongst the thousands of

fortunate Jews who were able to flee the Nazis for Australia under the Evians

Agreement. Growing up in Australia and prospering in business, Richard has

always expressed a deep sense of gratitude to Australia and our democratic way

of lift. He is a champion of other refugees and immigrants and praises the

significant contribution they make to their new country.

Leon Pratt settled in Shepparton on a 25-hectare orchard. Ten years later, the

lure of life in a big city brought the family to Melbourne. Whilst fruit growing, Leon

became very conscious of the increasing demand for cardboard boxes and

particularly corrugated ones. He found these could be manufactured without a

massive outlay of capital. In partnership with his brother-in-law, Max Plotka, and

an engineering friend, Les Feldman, Visy Board was established in Melbourne in

1948. The name came from max Plotka’s wife, Ida Visbord who invested Pds

1,000 to help purchase the first corrugating machine.

Richard studied at University High School and later as a commerce student at the

University of Melbourne. He was a fine athlete and starred with the Carlton

Reserves Australian Rules Football team (winning the Morrish Media for Best

and Fairest in the competition).

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Between 1954 and 1958, he acted in at least a dozen theatrical productions and

his interest in the theatre at the Melbourne University Dramatic Society soon

exceeded his Bachelor of Commerce aspirations. Whilst at the University, he

worked as a salesman for Visy Board – a business that had found a real niche in

the Australian manufacturing scene.

Richard spent almost a year overseas touring and starring in Ray Lawler’s

“Summer of the Seventeenth Doll” – both in London and on Broadway.

He thought seriously of remaining an actor – he had the good looks, the charm

and a wonderful voice. However, at the end of 1957, with his parent’s needs in

mind, he returned to Melbourne and threw himself into the family business.

In 1959, Richard married Jeanne Lasker. In 1966, he lost his Uncle and in 1969,

after a period of ill health, his father died.

I remember those days. Richard and his mother were suddenly the proprietors of

one of Australia’s most profitable packaging businesses. The competitors and

major suppliers started circling in earnest in expectation that the young man and

his mum would not make the grade.

How wrong they were!

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Visy Industries is now the largest privately owned packaging paper and recycling

company in the world. It operates more than 100 manufacturing plants in

Australia, New Zealand and the USA, with a workforce of 8,000 people and

annual sales of about $3 billion.

At a time when Australia’s manufacturing percentage of GDP is down to about

3%, Richard Pratt’s achievements are remarkable. How has he done this? He

would say by constantly observing and meeting the needs of the consumer. To

do this he stays close to the shop floor and to his workforce ensuring that they

too are focused on the customer’s needs.

In the early 80’s, Visy moved into paper manufacturing in order to recycle the

waste materials from the box making process. Since then the group has been a

leader in all aspects of recycling and managing waste. Richard Pratt believes

that huge storage pipes made from recycled plastic can help to solve Australia’s

water supply problems.

Richard Pratt, the lateral thinker, is driven by a desire to use his good fortune to

help others. His family established the Pratt Foundation in 1978 and today it is

estimated to have distributed around $140 million to a wide range of worthy and

needy causes in Australia, Israel and the USA. The aim of the Foundation is to

“enrich the lives of our community” – like the Potter and Myer Foundations.

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The Pratt Foundation gives generously to education, the arts, and to worthy

community causes. Currently about $10 million per annum is distributed. Three

institutions, which Richard Pratt has nurtured in the 90’s, are the Swinburne

University of Technology, the Australia Business Arts Foundation and the

Victorian Arts Centre Trust.

He has also been the catalyst in urging our business leaders to invest in arts and

culture. He has shown others the benefit of building strategic investments in the

arts and culture into their business planning and how their balance sheets will

improve as a result.

He and Jeanne are tireless workers for our community. They are both dedicated

to helping others and to sharing their good fortune widely. Richard believes that

business and work must be fun. “It is important to not only cut costs”, he says,

“But to sing a song”. His rich baritone voice is still a delight to hear.

Richard’s dedication and generosity have certainly justified the title “Australia’s

cultural entrepreneur”. Early this year (2007), Richard was appointed President

of his beloved Carlton Football Club. Already his passion, generosity and

leadership are showing the way toward a bright future for a great club, which has

been struggling, in recent years. Like Sir Arvi Parbo and many others who

migrated to Australia, Richard Pratt has demonstrated that Australia continues to

be a land of opportunity for those who work hard and embrace the spirit of

community involvement. The migrant people of the past one hundred years have 70

contributed immensely to the culture and sophistication of a Australian life and as

a nation, Australia is enriched by their decision to live here.

Talking of migrants, where would the Carlton Football Club be without Ron

Barassi, Serge Silvani, Steve Silvani, Alec Jesalenko, Anthonly Koutefides, Scot

Camporelli, Ange Christou, to name but a few from migrant families?

Who knows the next generation of migrants may product a premiership flag for

Carlton and its President, Richard Pratt.

71

LYNNE SWINBURNE

About ten years ago, I had a phone call from Sir Peter Derham asking me to help

Swinburne with a Canberra project. Peter has spent a lifetime in helping those in

need and in fundraising for worthy causes. His request for help deserved urgent

attention as always. I had failed him recently when he was seeking funds to

restore “Mawson’s Hut” in Antarctica. My letter to Kerry Packer had brought the

following reply, “Laurie, I love you dearly and I think the world of you, but giving

money to restore the Mawson Hut would be 274th on my list. For the moment it

has to be St Vincent’s Hospital and Cardiac equipment. I’m sorry”.

But I am digressing. Lyn Swinburne is the dynamic founder of the Breast Cancer

Network Australia of which she is also the CEO. She became aware of the need

for a caring support group when suffering from her own breast cancer problem in

the early 1990’s. One day whilst watching her son playing sport, she met Sir

Peter Derham (probably watching his grandson) and spoke to him about her

need to have manufactured thousands of plastic pink ladies. Peter, the son of

the founder of Nylex, always keen to help arranged the production and donation.

The pink ladies were to become Lyn’s symbol for breast cancer sufferers.

I phoned Lyn as requested and she told me of her plan to have a symbolic field

day in the national capital, Canberra. “Would it be possible to display the pink

ladies on the lawns of Parliament House?” She wondered. “What a wonderful

idea”, said I. The next day I phoned Senator Margaret Reid, President of the 72

Senate and a good friend from my days on the Council of the Australian national

University, the Parliament House Construction Authority and the Canberra

Development Board. Margaret could not have been more helpful and to this day

she remains a staunch supporter of the Breast Cancer Network. Lyn and her

team following up and in due course Canberra hosted a most successful field

day. The planting of thousands of pink ladies on the lawns of the old Parliament

House was very moving and a powerful symbol of our national concern for the

victims and their families.

Since the BCNA has held field days in most capital cities, bring awareness,

volunteers and donations from all over Australia.

Being a Melbourne person, Lyn has centred her operation and her board of

management in this city. Thanks to the superb generosity of the Gillespie family,

BCNA is housed in the modern offices of Bakers Delight in Camberwell, beside

the Town hall. Bakers Delight continues to be an outstanding sponsor. Apart

from the office space, every Bakers Delight shop features a tin for contributors.

In May 2005, with help from Terry Bracks, Lyn was able to persuade the AFL to

stage a spectacular field of women at the M.C.G. before the Adelaide-Melbourne

Twilight Match. 11,500 women volunteered to wear pink ponchos and in blue

about 100 men – a person for every woman and man diagnosed with breast

cancer in 2005. At 5.30pm, they formed up on the sacred turf assuming from the

air the shape of the pink lady. Channel Nine cooperating in the promotion

sent the news crew to photograph the event from the Channel Nine helicopter. It

was a most spectacular sight on a lovely autumn evening. Having enlisted 73

Channel Nine and knowing we were unlikely to be ready in time for the 6.00pm

news bulletin, I phoned the News Director to apologise, “Laurie”, he said, “Don’t

worry, this is a world first and we’ll be happy to keep the bulletin running”. What

a great picture it was on Channel Nine, the Herald-Sun and then right around the

world!

Lyn’s ability to engage people has inspired a volunteer army in all parts of

Australia. Together these wonderful people (mainly women) have thrown an

umbrella of care over those who need friendship and help after breast cancer

surgery.

A few weeks before the 2007 AFL season ended, Lyn and her team again with

AFL blessings, staged the “Field of Women Live”. This time in Sydney at the

Telstra Stadium immediately before the Sydney Swans – St. Kilda match.

This time there were 13,000 women in pink ponchos and 100 men in blue. It was

another great spectacle and a sobering reminder of the need to care for those

afflicted.

Lyn Swinburne, a primary school teacher, wife of a Melbourne Solicitor, Tom and

mother of two underwent surgery for breast cancer in 1993, following by

radiotherapy, chemotherapy and hormone therapy. Her successful recovery

made her conscious of the need to help others, particularly women in rural areas

and those on low incomes.

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In 1998, she founded Breast Cancer Network Australia. The national

organisation now represents 183 member groups and 23,000 individuals

throughout Australia. BCNA has a staff of 20 and a vast army of volunteers. The

Field of Women concept designed by Lyn has been a winner. The 1997 event in

Canberra raised $60,000 and provided enough to fund BCNA’s first year of

operation. Members of the public paid to sponsor a silhouette and attached

messages in the names of women (and men) affected by breast cancer.

Apart from the “Field of Women Live” with the AFL, local communities around

Australia host mini fields of women consisting of 100 silhouettes of pink ladies to

raise awareness and raise money.

In her spare time, Lyn created and edits “The Beacon” and “The Inside Story” for

women diagnosed with breast cancer. Forty issues (published quarterly) have

been published. The spring issue in 2007 covers (1) Surviving Breast Cancer,

(2) Issues of Concern, (3) Hope or Hurdles (The new survival kit), (4) Thank You,

(5) My Story, (6) Letters, and (7) Upcoming Events. The front cover has a

magnificent photograph of the 13,000 pink ladies on the Telstra Stadium in

Sydney with an article from Lyn, which I quote:

“What a powerful vision to have our “Field of Women Live” beamed across

Australia and the world. In Sydney, 13,000 Australians stood together in pink

and 100 blue to show the human face of our annual breast cancer statistics.

With BCNA’s work focussing on those affected by this disease rather than on

raising money for research or in scientific study, our pink lady made a bold 75

statement about the impact on an individual woman and those closest to her.

Our mission is to make sure that those affected get the best information, care

and support.

Not only does this issue of “The Beacon” cover our Sydney event, importantly it

also considers the personal issues faced by women with the disease. For some

of us, many issues remain even though we are long term survivors”.

Another of Lyn’s initiatives is “The seat at the table” program, in which BCNA

trains women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer to become

advocates. The women once trained, represent BCNA at forums, conferences,

etc. in order to influence policy and services for Australian with breast cancer.

Lyn is a member of the National Breast Cancer Centre’s Board and is a dynamic

leader for every Australian who needs care and friendship after the trauma of

breast cancer.

For me it has been exciting to watch the passion and dedication of Lyn

Swinburne attract volunteers of all ages, from all over Australia, committed to

helping those in need.

You the “Pink Ladies” are all heroes and we salute you.

Lyn, the visionary, who followed through to make life better for thousands of

people, has shown us all what can be done by a spirited woman with dedication

and talent.76

CONCLUSION

It has been a privilege to know and work with the fifteen outstanding Australians

profiled in these pages.

They have inspired me and I am most grateful to my publisher who has agreed to

make these stories available to the public and particularly to the many younger

readers who seek inspiration and role models.

L.M.M.

October 2007

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