AACo half year results 2009, released 11 August 2009

August 12th, 2009

The AACo-s half year 2009 report, released yesterday, makes for interesting reading. It includes, ‘a provision for potential liability related to a sublease taken out by Great Southern Plantations.’ But no further details – exactly where, when, what and how much – have been publicised. An item listed under ‘Contingent Assets’ is also interesting: ‘On […]

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Rupert Murdoch reminds us all that quality costs money to produce

August 7th, 2009

It’s an old adage but one I’ve been reminded of a lot, recently. Rupert Murdoch (News Corp) has just announced that people will have to pay to view News Corp online stories in the near future, after testing it out with the Wall Street Journal. No doubt other media owners will do likewise, very soon, […]

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El Questro & other Voyages Resorts sold by GPT

August 6th, 2009

El Questro (East Kimberley region, WA) has been sold by General Property Trust (GPT) along with other Voyages Resorts. Buyer is Delaware North, a food & hospitality business based in Buffalo (USA). Apparently Delaware North has more than 50,000 employees, worldwide, and more than $2 billion sales annually.

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Chopper crash on Wave Hill Station (NT)

August 6th, 2009

A helicopter crashed on Wave Hill station yesterday, but it was not a typical, relatively low-powered R22 mustering helicopter involved in station work but a very expensive turbine chopper, specifically built to carry passengers – a Bell Longranger. Presumably it had the standard Longranger seating for 7 but the chopper only contained the pilot and […]

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Wrotham Park and Moola Bulla taken off the market until 2010

July 30th, 2009

According to the Melbourne Age Newspaper, receivers McGrathNicol have taken Wrotham Park and Moola Bulla off the market while they are mustered, and they will be offered for sale again early next year, after ‘the next big wet, due in November’. This article is a classic example of a journalist who has absolutely no understanding […]

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Andrew Forrest buys back Minderoo, the cattle station he grew up on

July 30th, 2009

Self-made mining magnate and entrepreneur Andrew Forrest grew up on Minderoo Station near Onslow in the Pilbara. Minderoo was in the Forrest family for 120 years but his father Don eventually sold it in disillusionment in 1998, after years of drought and mounting debt. Andrew has just bought back the 226,585 ha station with 10,000 […]

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Mail order business specialising in books on tractors, earthmoving equipment etc

July 21st, 2009

Just discovered Plough Book Sales, a Victorian online mail-order business that specialises in books on tractors, old engines, earthmoving equipment, steam engines and metal working. The sort of specialist books you’ll never find on A & R or Dymocks shelves. Plough Book Sales also has a list of interesting links to related topics and book […]

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Sandy Thorne – bush story teller, poet, entertainer & public speaker

July 19th, 2009

For the first 7 months of this year I’ve been trapped in the office tackling mountains of administration every day (that’s literally every day, not public-service ‘every day’; i.e. it has been the best part of 7 days a week, including public holidays; except for a couple of days over Easter and a trip away […]

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Greenvale ‘Stock Up For Hope’ event, Thurs 23 July

July 18th, 2009

On Thursday 23rd July there will be a ‘Stock up for Hope’ charity event at Greenvale (north Queensland). The 4pm footy match at the Greenvale oval will be refereed by Stock Up For Hope CEO & NRL referee Tim Mander. Former Cowboys coach Graham Murray will also be there, along with representatives from the Cowboys […]

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Careers in the aviation industry

July 13th, 2009

I have come across quite a few low-hours fixed wing pilots when roaming around the country side. Young blokes (it’s more than 99% blokes) from cities who’ve ended up in the bush flying fixed-wing aircraft, usually single-engine Cessnas; doing fence and bore runs, store runs, and ferry work etc on cattle stations. These pilots are […]

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