People & Personalities
20 Years Service
Since our last Newsletter the number of staff achieving 20 years service has increased to 116, and the number achieving 30 years to 28. On behalf of the Company we congratulate all these employees for their achievement and thank them for their contributions over many years of service.
30 Years Service
VALE ALAN McGREGOR AO
The Board, Management and Staff of AWTA Ltd have expressed their sincere condolences to the family of Alan McGregor AO, Chairman AWTA Ltd, who passed away on Saturday 19th February after a protracted illness.
Condolences from other organisations with whom Alan was directly or indirectly involved have also flowed to his family.
Alan was educated at St Peter’s College and at Geelong Grammar School. He graduated in Economics and Law from Adelaide University and Cambridge University. He practiced as a criminal prosecutor for the Crown Solicitor’s Office in Adelaide until 1965 when he became a partner in Thomson Muirhead Ross & McCarthy.
In 1973 he formed von Doussa McGregor & Co with John von Doussa. He became a consultant with the company in 1978 before retiring from law in 1983.
He was a Director of Elders IXL and was involved in dealing with that company’s difficult financial problems in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s. He served as chairman of F H Faulding & Co Ltd, James Hardy Industries, Burns Philp, Minelab Electronics and Intercast & Forge Pty Ltd. He was also a member of Boards or Committees of various charitable and other community-related organisations, including The Centre for Independent Studies (Chairman), the Finance Committee - University of Adelaide and The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust of Australia.
Alan was appointed Chairman of AWTA Ltd in 1992, succeeding Lindsay Yeo AO who served as Chairman from 1966 to 1992. His farming background, which included a directorship with S Kidman & Co Ltd, cattle stations near Alice Springs, a property, Willalooka, in south east of South Australia and a large property on the Nullabor Plain, together with his extensive legal and business experience, made him an ideal candidate for this position.
During his term Alan made a major contribution to the Company and the Australian wool industry. He was a director of the highest calibre and integrity, intelligent and vastly experienced in the corporate world. He led the Board and management of AWTA Ltd extremely well. We will miss his guidance and his friendship.
Over the past year, despite having to combat his illness, Alan selflessly continued his Chairmanship of AWTA Ltd. The achievements of the Company under his Chairmanship, during a very difficult time for the wool industry, will remain an enduring memorial to him.
A funeral service, attended by Alan’s family and friends as well as representatives of the Companies and other organisations to which he contributed so greatly, was held at St Peter's Cathedral, North Adelaide at 1400 on Monday 28th February.
His wife Skye, sons Stirling and Thyne and daughter Iona survive him.