ON THE WALLABY- 6th March 2006

INDIA – AT LAST WE AWAKEN TO THE SLEEPING GIANT!

My earliest connection with India came through my late father who had exported Remount horses for the Indian Army and the Maharajahs to that country prior to the Second World War.

Many were his stories about that land, ranging from when they delivered the horses to Bombay to their trips into the Highlands and playing polo (dashed Colonials!!!!) with and against British and Indian Army Regiments.

The remounts he (and others) exported were in two categories-

• for the Maharajahs personal troops, they had to be chestnut with flaxen mane and tail and 4 white socks, between 15 and 15.2 hands high and

• for the Indian Army, they had to be blood bays with black points 14.2-14.3 hands

The Australian horses (the “whalers” named so because originally they came from New South Wales) had a formidable reputation for toughness and longevity and were highly regarded by the Indian troops.

As an aside, it has been an ambition of mine to one day chronicle this fascinating trade and part of Australia’s pastoral history, my great regret being that I did not take the time and effort to sit down with Dad and let him meander back through his memories and record them on tape.

Be that as it may, I have the title, For Maharajahs and Others firmly locked in and hopefully one day it will see the light of day and prove to be a usual reference book on the subject.

Anyway, I have once again gone off course so back to my main point of the future of India in Australia’s eyes.

A number of my work colleagues have been barraged for years on the potential of India to not only Australia by way of trade but to our businesses as well. Sadly, so far that has fallen on deaf ears but maybe with Prime Minister Howard scarpering over there after Dubya has been (and laid a time bomb in the form of uranium sales for him) their view will change.

Lets just look at India. It-

• has the second largest population in the world after China

• it is the worlds largest democracy

• it has more millionaires than Australia has people

• its “middle class” (read dollars/rupees) numbers just over 300 million – about the same size as the total population of America

• it has double the arable land of China

• it has abundant water supplies and amounts of sunshine

• it has a British heritage, English is the dominant language and with that an understanding of “how things work”.

• it has the second largest Muslim population in the world (after Indonesia) and one of the most stable.

Need I go on??

Australian business- as we say here- “fer crissake, pull yer fingers out and get over there”!!

HANS CHRISTIAN COMES TO AUSTRALIA

Great news that I espied during the week was that arguably the finest cruising yacht made anywhere , the Hans Christian line of cruising yachts, is now available here in Australia.

Having owned and sailed one for 4 years in the late 1990’s, our Hans Christian 43T HaCienda, I can give an unashamedly unbiased opinion on the vessel.

They are built in Thailand and their history is that the production of the Traditional range of Hans Christian Yachts was transferred from Andersen Yachts Ltd to Pantawee Marine Co., Ltd in November, 2004.

Pantawee Marine Co., Ltd is a wholly owned family boat building business located on the Eastern Seaboard of Thailand near the resort city of Pattaya and was established by Jack Hall and his wife Jum in 1986. Jack Hall managed the yard that manufactured Hans Christian Yachts (Andersen Yachts Ltd) from 1996 to 2004 and brings with him vast knowledge and experience in producing the range of Hans Christian Yachts.

Several other key staff have also joined Pantawee Marine Co., Ltd including the master carpenters who will continue the teak woodworking legacy that is synonymous with the famous Hans Christian name.

The mechanical, plumbing and electrical system installations are supervised by American Marine Engineer Mr. Paul Back who has been a Thai resident of 36 years with many of those years associated with the construction of Hans Christian Yachts.

Specifications for the respective models remain unchanged and prospective owners can expect the same workmanship and quality that has been handed down over the years from the original builders who created these unique vessels.

In 2005 Pantawee Marine Co. Ltd appointed GillKeely Marine of Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia as their sole Australian and New Zealand Dealer.

If you’d like more information, simply email Ian Johnstone at ianjohnstone@gillkeely.com and you’ll get a prompt reply and great service AND if successful in buying, a beautiful vessel that not only sails superbly but also holds its resale value!

Carpe diem,

Tony

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