JohnM wrote:
One thing I will say about Dick Pratt (even though I've never met the man.
Unlike many of Australia's wealthy, he actually has a history of donating money to causes he deems worthy.
And you need to remember that although nothing comes for nothing, sometimes the public recognition that you're the 'patron' is reward enough.
Ego's a powerful motivator. And when you're worth several billion, and just a few million can make such a huge splash in society, it's definitely something you'd consider doing.
If this rumour is true, then I'd fully expect Pratt to want a big say in how the money is spent. And there's no better way of doing that than in approving of the board of directors who are going to spend it for him.
I've got no problem with that - and anyway, it'd be put to the members with a very simple vote at an Extraordinary general meeting:
Vote for the incumbents, and get more of the same.
Vote for the Pratt ticket, and get a new board + several million dollars.
Then it's up to us. Gee, I wonder which way that vote would go...
Bit of background on the potential messiah...
Born in Poland, Mr Pratt emigrated to Australia with his family at the age of four. By the age of 18 he was juggling study, acting and working in the family business, Visy Board. Visy Industries now employs almost 8000 people in one of the world's largest privately-owned packaging and recycling companies.
Richard Pratt has long believed in service to the community and in corporate philanthropy. His service to the community includes leadership positions in higher education, the arts, and medical research. Through the Pratt Foundation established in 1978, the Pratt family is among Australia's most generous business families, giving directly and indirectly over $10 million each year to support medical research, social and cultural development encompassing aboriginal health, social welfare, arts, education, and the environment.
He is an active participant in national debates on population and immigration policy, irrigation and water conservation policy, and the need for greater business philanthropy.
At the University of Melbourne, Richard Pratt's support through the Pratt Foundation includes generous gifts to the Union Theatre redevelopment project, establishment of the Pratt Family Chair in the Melbourne Business School, the Pratt Foundation Scholarship to the highest ranked Melbourne Research Scholarship applicant, donations to the Centre for Palliative Care Education, the Ian Potter Museum of Art, the Department of Fine Arts, and the Richard Pratt Oration in the Centre for Jewish History and Culture.