by Brian Cain
CHAPTER THIRTY THREE
Beagle sorted the office out in Stirling, locals watched with interest as the buildings underwent renovations. It created interest when the windows were sign written: Australian People’s Party candidate for Federal seat of Parkin, Jason Robert Brinkly. It was Wednesday the nineteenth of July, nine am, the board of Brinkly International sat in the Adelaide office for a meeting. Jason looked up from writing in his diary.
“I declare the meeting open.” There were five neat piles of documents in front of him. “All detailed reports tabled by members for examination by all, could we have a briefing on progress from all members. We will start with you I think Watson.”
Watson cleared his throat. “Certainly. Co-operation between management and staff at Adelaide manufacturing plants sees our modernisation programs in full swing. Our present products have improved out of sight, these are still being given to charity as you requested. Some of our staff have been sent to our overseas plants to observe operations there and undergo training. The full program will take about nine months, but some new product will be rolling off the lines in about a month. Most of our new kitchenware will be ceramic based, with our knives and forks being high class stainless steel. We are creating great interest, orders for ninety-eight already exceed production. However, some employees have had some great input on improving production with the help of Benneti, Wilson and Potts. Our new agreement gives workers profit bonus on quality as well as quantity. Everyone’s happy; we’re gearing for the twenty-first century. It will be at a cost of about fifteen million dollars. We are operating at a loss at present, but we should be back in black in two weeks with the co-operation we are receiving from all concerned. People are looking forward to having a sense of pride in what they do again, they don’t feel they have to look up to you, as much as walk beside you Jason.”
“Great, how about you Steve?”
“Things are really warming up, you haven’t seen much of Brad or Vic because they’re in the Blue Mountains studio recording, with the new line up. With all the press about you here, both albums are one and two on the charts again. Seems this news of your honesty and integrity is being heralded overseas as well. Both albums have charted in America, UK and much of Europe again and of all places Russia. You’ve become a cult figure. We have four big acts recorded and ready for release world-wide over the next two months. We are making god knows how much, if you got any ideas where to get rid of it I’d like to know.”
“Set up a series of venues around the world, call them ‘The Ramrod Rock Rooms’ or something. Give the people what they are paying to support. I would like to see good unknown bands with the big acts on the same footing, not half the PA withheld from their use, like what goes on now. It’s a big job so get someone to give you a hand that knows what they’re doing. One thing I would like to do is meet anyone who is going to be a big part of the organisation. So if you find someone, run them past me, just so I know who we’re dealing with. That goes for all of us.”
Steven looked really pissed off with himself. “Why can’t I think of things like that, what a great idea.”
Jason picked up his mother’s record from beside him on the table. “Take this Steve, see if you can get a run off of it on tape or something. It’s an old seventy-eight of my mother singing.”
Steven took the record. “I’ll see what I can do.”
“What do you have for us Geoff?”
“Firstly I’ll be moving to Adelaide next week, as you requested. My wife is quite excited about coming home. John McDonald was upset at my move but had no regrets as I was coming to help you. I have been consulting with David about our real estate, so we can join the running of Malinda’s estate with your father’s. I suggest we start a law firm of our own, to use some of this money we have doing nothing. Between myself and David, I think we could build quite a network.”
“Good thinking Geoff,” said Jason. “You and David can move your offices into the office complex here as soon as you can. Watson can move into here as well, no point in us having offices all over town, when we have this complex empty. David, what have you been doing?”
“A lot of my time has been taken up with the prosecution of the three union officials, plus the action against Banks and Harrogan. Banks and Harrogan are being quickly dealt with by the state. The union boys have run away, we’re trying to find them to get back some of the money they have embezzled from workers right around the state. The union offices are very grateful for what we’re doing. As it involves so many of our workers, I’m not charging them for our services. Handling our own real estate has had some good response; I think we can get some really good people working with us there. I might run some of them past you next week. One thing for sure is that I think we can help Steven with some good locations for his rock venues. Now I’ve made myself familiar with most of our properties, some places come to mind here and in the states that would suit.”
“I like it. You’ve been waiting patiently Nick. How goes it in Western Australia?”
“The only problem I have is too much gold. Even the dirt we were going to use for construction fill is full of nuggets. We have had to bring in a mobile processing plant to remove the gold before we use the dirt. We are already recovering hundreds of ounces. A design has been prepared for the open cut, every man and his dog are bidding for the mining. I hope to make a decision next week on that, it may not be the cheapest bidder, as I want this done properly. A company called Techplant have the contract to build the processing plant. They’re already on site, should be up and running in six months. I have a nugget here for everyone from the site.” Nick handed out a small nugget of gold to everyone. “The ore body is still getting bigger, now we have resumed drilling. Proven reserves rise with every hole we drill. We are the talk of the mining world at present. Big news because we have borrowed no money, making it a totally Australian venture. Blokes like working on the project knowing the money will stay here. Your music booms out right across the site and everywhere in Kalgoorlie and Perth. Noisy bugger you are. I reckon you could run for Prime Minister at the moment.”
“And that gentleman brings me to a statement I have to make. I’ll be busy running for the Federal seat of Parkin for the next month, with the Australian People’s Party. I have no idea what there policies are, but I’ll change them anyway. Watson will have to fill in for me except for Wednesdays when we will all meet. If I win the seat, I will be standing down and you will have to elect a chairman of the board. My involvement in the company would only be financial from then on, which doesn’t really interest me except for the well being of my daughter. I’m sure you’re all going to work well together, if that was not the case I would know, but I feel at ease. My place is not here, but it is an enormous step and lever for me where ever my destination. Make press releases on everything we are doing, I would never like to see anything underhanded pass in our dealings. I know I never have to fear that with the fine people I have been sent. We will meet again next Wednesday. The meeting is closed, thank you gentlemen.” Jason ran through the reports from everyone with Watson. When they had finished, Jason pulled a small computer disk from his pocket.
“Watson, do we have a chemist in our midst?”
“Yes, we have one in the lab at our southern plant.”
“Could you get him to look at the formula on this disk and see what he makes of it?”
“Certainly, I’ll let you know what he finds as soon as I can.”
“I think it’s important, Malinda hid it away for some reason.”
“I’ll handle it personally.”
“Thanks Watson.”
At two pm he climbed into his car and headed for his campaign office in Stirling.
