The lovely Trawool Valley Resort was once again the venue for a successful Mitchell Shire Business Forum Breakfast. An unseasonably 'mild' morning greeted approximately 100 business owners and guests to the Trawool Valley.

Mitchell Shire Mayor, Cr. Bob Humm welcomed State Member for Seymour, Ben Hardman and Member for Central Highlands, Robert Mitchell.

Cr. Humm gave Federal Member for McEwen, Fran Bailey's apologies. Cr. Humm congratulated the organisers of the forum and was pleased to introduce Business Forum Members to the assembled guests as well as thanking Mr.Mark Amos for his previous efforts in support of the forum.

The Mayor welcomed the guest speaker for the morning, Mr. Simon O'Donnell. Simon is well known not only as a local resident but as a sporting champion.

The sporting career of Simon O’Donnell reads like a schoolboy’s dream come true. After excelling in sport at Assumption College in Kilmore, Simon moved to Melbourne to play Australian Rules Football with St. Kilda. After two successful seasons with the Saints, Simon was faced with a difficult but enviable decision – whether to concentrate on cricket or football.

He chose cricket and has never looked back.

Whilst it may appear that Simon’s sporting career followed a sure road to success, life away from sport has not been so kind. Returning to Australia in 1987, after playing in the winning World Cup Team, Simon was diagnosed as having cancer. He fought the disease for twelve months and survived.

Since his retirement from cricket after the 1992/93 season, Simon followed his lifelong passion of thoroughbred horse racing. His company O’Donnell Thoroughbreds International, a horse Purchase and Management Consulting Company, was formed in 1994. Since its inception the company has had many successes on the racetrack, winning their first Group One event in 1997. Simon is now also host of all racing telecasts with the Nine Network.

It is no secret that Simon is one of the Nine Network’s shooting stars and he has various key hosting roles in the Nine Networks national/international coverage of sport.

The presentation to the assembled forum was extremely humorous yet presented in a way that provided a simple and lasting message for the business networks in the district.

All would agree, a very enjoyable morning.

Congratulations to all involved.

[Source: ICMI]

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