Scotch College

Monthly Luncheons

August

Reflecting on life after politics, and the changes of direction his life has taken, Jim Kennan provided a fascinating observation to the August Luncheon held at the Australian Club.

Moving now, as he has, into business with international connections he was able to give a broad perspective of global developments, particularly within The Asian region.

The changes in Europe creating a cohesive unit together with the continued strength of the United States have led to great advances in those areas. The Eastern Asian countries are now beginning to emerge as great potential competitors as they catch up in the technological race.

The dramatic increase in the division between rich and poor nations is a result of the globalisation, which has grown from the increased expansion of communications and educational skills. The inability of many countries to compete in these areas has left them further behind in the race for prosperity.

With globalisation national interests are challenged, none more so than within the legal systems, of individual countries. Inevitably internal politics conflict with this rapid expansion of change, be it through environmental, cultural or traditional self interest. The ability to adapt to such pressures is the real task that emerging nations face.

He sees Australia's continuing role with in the United Nations as very important both with financial support and to provide a balanced representation.

He concluded a wide ranging address with frank answers to questions. One being a brief summary on the potential of India and of Singapore and the economic challenge they represent to Australia.

September

The OSCA Wine and Food Society join each year with our Monthly Luncheon for a presentation of a prominent authority from the wine Industry. At our September Luncheon we were well served with the presence of Ross Brown of the Class of '65 and member of the Milewa, Brown Brothers dynasty.

Introduced by Peter Addison he briefly told of his own involvement as Sales Manager of the family business which employs over 250 people and as a firm harvests 45 different varieties of grapes making it the most diverse of any winery in the world. Together with his two brothers, who are responsible for the winemaking and the viticultural side of the family concern, they have expanded quite rapidly in recent years.

He outlined the changes and growth in the wine industry and compared its progress with the wool industry that has not added value to its produce before export in the way the wine industry has. With a strategic plan to develop an extensive export market worldwide it has, as an example, become the second largest importer to England. Being able to well compete on both quality and price under the diverse umbrella of "Brand Australia".

In fact we are now seeing the Australian winegrowing districts becoming an International Tourist attraction because of their success.

Recognising the changes in wine fashion he sees a period of over production in some varieties in the present cycle. This will of necessity create both opportunities and a challenge to find new markets to increase our proportion of world trade which presently runs at about 3%.

In answer to a number of questions he warned of the great threat of Argentina as a competitor in many of the markets into which we export. He said the decline of fortified wines was due to the cost of producing and holding wines that could so readily be placed on the market for quicker and more profitable returns.

An excellent and well presented address was much appreciated by the wine aficionadoes present.