Dr. Iain Corness
The recent Eastern Seaboard Sundowners, the Australian-Thai Chamber of
Commerce (AustCham) networking evening held on ‘Black Friday’, was a very
popular affair with the usual numbers swelled by 140 golfers (some were
floggers) who had that afternoon competed in AustCham’s Eastern Seaboard
Charity Golf competition.
Hans
Van Steertegem (left), director of operations at Pattaya Marriott Resort &
Spa, and Glen Walker (right), sales manager of Newspaper Direct.
The venue for the Seaboard Sundowners was the Moooore Bar and it was amazing
just how many ‘more’ could be accommodated and fed by the Marriott service
personnel with food from the kitchen brigade under the watchful eye of chef
Luis Zamora. Aussie beef burgers hustled on the spot were extremely popular.
Of course, AustCham should have been wondering just how the turn-out would
be, with Paraskevidekatriaphobia keeping 21 million Americans away from work
that day. However, they did not have to worry, with President Shane Torr
admitting he had no idea what it was, but did say that he would have his
staff brief him on the subject, but in any case he did not feel it was going
to be a problem. It wasn’t. (Paraskevidekatriaphobia is the irrational fear
of Friday 13th!)
(L
to R) Wim Scheggetman, managing director of Saraanlifstyle, Robert Watson,
managing director of Five Star Villas & Condos, and Peter Smith, director of
Insurance Brokers Co., Ltd.
The AustCham Eastern Seaboard coordinators are Paul Whyte (an Aussie) and
Paul Wilkinson (honorary Aussie), with the latter Paul (AGS Four Winds
International Movers) also being the driving force behind the charity golf
tournament. The recipient of the charity will be the Camillian Center in
Rayong, and the presentation of this will be held at the next Seaboard
Sundowners which will be held at Raimon Land’s Northpoint venue on July 11.
There were many technical prizes announced by AustCham’s executive director
‘Lofty’ Kyle, with some of the sponsors being on hand to present the prizes
personally. Notable amongst these was the delightful Prim Held from Novotel
Suvarnabhumi, who informed me that the hotel was actually a Thai
development, so by staying there you are actually helping the kingdom. What
a sales pitch! Another notable prize was the Carvery for Two People at
Jameson’s Irish Pub for one complete year. The winners will be easily
recognized next year as they waddle from hole to hole.
(L
to R) Scott Malone, managing director of Homehunters International Group
Co., Ltd., Malcolm Scorer, director of Insurance Brokers Co., LTD., and Neil
Rossell from Top Executive.
The overall winning golf team came by the name of “The Birdie Boys”
consisting of Roy Thornton, Mikael Anderson, Barry Traynor and Rick Holmes
for the afternoon’s play. 65 off the stick in the windy conditions showed
that the Birdie Boys knew how to fly! Whatever, the golf was certainly
enjoyed by all the participants, and the results of their largesse will be
seen next month.
There appeared to be many attendees from Opus Executive Search, led by Past
President Gary Woollacott, who was seen for the first time without a suit.
For Gary, that is almost like appearing naked! Certainly letting his hair
down, though he was probably trying to get new staff man “AJ”
Jeerapairotekun to just relax and enjoy himself.
(L
to R) Robin Hyde, manager of Schenker relocations of DB Schenker, Richard
Cunliffe, and Paul Whyte, general manager of Tinfish Thailand.
There were also many from ThaiSri Insurance, who had been the insurers of
the Toyota Fortuner, against a hole-in-one. Business development manager
Adriano Wuest assuring the bevy of ladies from the Bangkok Hospital Pattaya
(Ann, Pik and Nan) that ThaiSri did not get involved with health insurance,
only ‘hole’ insurance?
There were the usual culprits at an AustCham event, such as ‘Aussies’ Kevin
(the crane man) Fisher, Peter Smith and Malcolm Scorer (AA Insurance
brokers) all of whom had been practicing Pommy accents so well, they were
indistinguishable from the real thing. Well done lads!
(L
to R) Malcolm Scorer from AA Insurance brokers, John L. Pollard, managing
director of Meinhardt, and Peter Emblin, vice president of AustCham
Thailand.
Others seen imbibing and networking included Jimmy Howard (“Just give me a
beer, love”), Bob Watson (Five Star Villas and Condominiums), Scott Malone
(Home Hunters) and Okko Sprey from Macado (chemical and metal recyclers) who
described himself as a garbageman, but he will find it hard to wrest the
title from the polished dome of John L Hamilton from Waste Management Siam
(a Scottish Aussie).
Once again, AustCham hosted another great evening of networking, card
exchanging, drinking and general enjoyment, something the lads from
Down-Under do so well. If you missed this one, shame, but don’t miss the
next one on July 11.
Kevin Fisher (left), director
of S.E. Asia, and Wayne Ketter share a laugh.
(L to R) Simon Philbrook,
regional manager of MBMG Group,
and Mickey Price of X-Sport Co. Ltd.
(L to R) Banjong Philaiwan,
associate of Opus Recruitment Ltd, Suwanthep Malhotra, executive
director-sales marketing of Pattaya Mail Publishing Co., Ltd, Jitra
Wongjuan, director of Insurance Brokers Co., Ltd, and Dr. Salam Amir
Hoshang, managing director of MCS International Network Co., Ltd.
The winning team receives
their trophies. From left to right: Barry Traynor; Martin Kyle (AustCham
exec director) Mikael Anderson; Roy Thornton and Shane Torr (AustCham
president).
Dressing
in old French style.
