Article courtesy of The Nightly
Great leaders are decisive
Preferably after considering the positives and negatives for the decision. Good leaders are most often those who have the courage of their convictions, not those who change their tune based on what is thought may be popular at the time. There’s much truth in the saying “success is one per cent inspiration, 99 per cent perspiration”.
I had the pleasure of meeting Baroness Margaret Thatcher
What an excellent leader she was. Taking the hard decisions to turn around her country, implementing the right policies, and not worrying about what was popular but what was necessary, and hence she became popular, once the positive effects of her decisions were seen. She was an inspirational leader, and one who I think is an excellent role model to young women.
Also, Elon Musk, an international highly successful business leader, who has called for a garbage bin for old government tape and regulations. The new President of Argentina, Javier Milei. And the potential new leader of Canada, Pierre Poilievre, a strong advocate for common sense. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who led from red tape to red carpet in India, an especially difficult task.
Happy staff are better staff
We’ve proved it, indeed our staff tell us we’re the best mining company they’ve ever worked for, and we get similar much-valued comments from those who work for us in agriculture.
Having grown up in the Pilbara away from the comforts of the city, I think it’s important that we try to provide better facilities for those on our sites and stations. For instance, those in the outback know we not only are generous sponsors of RFDS and their new jets, but have provided private health insurance for our staff, so they can get the best care should they need. Additionally, we have our famous 2GR Wagyu beef, our delicious Kidman Pies, and the multi-award-winning Bannister Downs Dairy products up at Roy Hill, Atlas and other sites. We have bonus schemes as well so that our employees share in the success of our company. As I often say: when mining does well, Australia does well.
I was raised with a patriotic nature
I know that investment and development is key to the living standards of Australians.
Regarding mining, I’ve long known minerals are not like wool that grows every year; you have got to find, invest and develop more each year or more each decade if Australia’s standards of living are to continue. So it is absolutely necessary to have more investment and development in mining all the time, and our governments should pay attention to this and fix their policies which threaten Australians’ standards of living.
My family has a very long history in agriculture, going all the way back to farms and then in the 1860s on my father’s side. My ancestors travelled north on the Sea Ripple together with a Withnell who had married a Hancock, and were the first to establish an agricultural industry in the Pilbara near what is now Roebourne. I’ve continued this family heritage, and am able to employ some truly wonderful country people. Together we make a contribution to Australia’s very high quality and important agricultural produce and exports.
Our more recent acquisition of fashion brands are more than just apparel, it is about retaining and growing iconic Australian brands that are part of Australia’s special and unique history.
24. 10. 2024
