CBD
The Salvation Army's annual Red Shield Appeal is off to a flying start thanks to an extraordinarily generous $1 million donation from mining magnate Andrew "Twiggy" Forrest.
The Fortescue Metals Group chairman opened wallets aplenty at the appeal launch in Sydney on Thursday by challenging the 770-strong crowd to match his mammoth donation.
Former miner Roger Massy-Greene, who is the appeal's chairman, and his wife, QBE chairman Belinda Hutchinson, were going to give $100,000 but lifted it to $200,000.
Whitehaven Coal boss and occasional Nathan Tinkler sparring partner Tony Haggarty, who is on the appeal committee, wasn't in the room, but he and his wife pledged $100,000.
Sydney Harbour Bridge climb organiser Paul Cave was also a big giver, chipping in $35,000, and the NSW government donated $200,000, which was presented by the Minister for Family and Community Services, Pru Goward.
Forrest's wife, Nicole, told the crowd, a who's who of corporate Sydney, that "it is equally as hard to give it away as to make it", while man-of-the-people Twiggy noted that he, at times, spoke with homeless people to find out their stories.
The throng was entertained by MC and former rugby union
star Nick Farr-Jones, with
music from Australian Idol winner Stan Walker.
Those feasting on what, given the free-flowing charity pledges, must have been most expensive rubber chicken, included Macquarie Bank rising star Shemara Wikramanayak, former "millionaires factory" bigwig Tony Berg, fashion figure Carla Zampatti, former Transfield executive Guido Belgiorno-Nettis, and company director Lucy Turnbull. By the end of the day the room had well and truly matched Forrest's ante - a very good start towards the appeal target of $79 million.
Guy get-together
Major international sporting events seem to attract Australian corporate types like bees to a honeypot. One dual-listed mining outfit is known to hold a London board meeting during the same fortnight as a little tennis tournament that occurs at the
All England Lawn Tennis club
each June.
Don't despair, shareholders, it's probably just coincidence.
The US Masters golf championship at Augusta National is top of the tree when it comes to luring Aussies. There were so many getting about Georgia that PGA Australasia chief Brian Thorburn decided to host a good ol' Aussie barbie.
According to CBD's man in Augusta, Stadium Australia Group chief Daryl Kerry was on hand. So was Barry Brown, the new boss of Qantas International - no, wait! He actually runs Emirates Australia.
The corporate types rubbed shoulders with sporting powerbrokers and glitterati. Former US PGA champion Wayne Grady turned up, as did Golf Australia chairman John Hopkins, and Australian Olympic Committee vice-president Peter Montgomery.
Thorburn welcomed his guests to the pre-Masters festivities and singled out a few personally, including a special mention for "Guy Kenny, ironman superstar".
Sadly for Thorburn, his
guest was in fact a bloke named Guy Leech.
"The intro was met with the same looks of confusion as a Tiger Woods three-putt," quipped one observer. "Leechy looked a bit baffled."
Grant Kenny is, of course, the blond ironman who starred in The Coolangatta Gold in the 1980s, but saved his best thespian work for a series of Nutri-Grain cereal ads. Leech was his blond ironman
rival who actually won The Coolangatta Gold.
To prove his point, Leech was later seen at the party clutching a Nutri-Grain box and declaring: "I'm Guy Leech, not Grant Kenny!"
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Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…
At the Sydney launch Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest kicked off the annual Red Shield Appeal with an extraordinarily generous $1 million donation and challenged the 770-strong crowd to match it. The event featured more corporate pledges and entertainment, providing a strong start toward the appeal’s fundraising goal.
The article lists several high-profile donors and corporate figures: Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest (Fortescue Metals Group) gave $1 million; former miner Roger Massy‑Greene and his wife Belinda Hutchinson (QBE chair) increased their pledge to $200,000; Tony Haggarty (Whitehaven Coal) and his wife pledged $100,000; Paul Cave (Sydney Harbour Bridge climb organiser) gave $35,000; and the NSW government donated $200,000 (presented by minister Pru Goward). Other corporate guests included Macquarie Bank’s Shemara Wikramanayak, Tony Berg, Carla Zampatti, Guido Belgiorno‑Nettis and Lucy Turnbull.
The article states the appeal target was $79 million, and the pledges at the launch — including Forrest’s $1 million — were described as a very good start toward that goal.
The NSW government donated $200,000 to the appeal, and that contribution was presented at the launch by the Minister for Family and Community Services, Pru Goward.
The event was MC’d by former rugby union star Nick Farr‑Jones, and musical entertainment was provided by Australian Idol winner Stan Walker.
High‑profile philanthropy from corporate leaders often attracts public and media attention and can signal community engagement and leadership. For investors, these activities are relevant to company reputation and stakeholder relations, although charitable giving itself is not a direct indicator of company financial performance.
The article notes major international sporting events draw corporate types, mentioning a London board meeting timed with Wimbledon and the US Masters at Augusta National. PGA Australasia chief Brian Thorburn hosted a pre‑Masters Aussie barbecue attended by executives such as Stadium Australia Group’s Daryl Kerry, Emirates Australia’s Barry Brown, former US PGA champion Wayne Grady, Golf Australia chairman John Hopkins and Australian Olympic Committee vice‑president Peter Montgomery.
Yes — the article includes a cheeky anecdote about a mistaken introduction at the Augusta event: Guy Leech was introduced as ‘Guy Kenny, ironman superstar’ (a nod to Grant Kenny), leading to good‑natured confusion. The social color illustrates how sporting events and charity functions double as networking and PR opportunities for corporate figures.
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