Comes time to get out

YOU might have seen from The Chronicle that I am giving up the chairmanship of Empire Theatres Pty Ltd at the next AGM in October. I also did a little Breakfast Show interview with Belinda Sanders in which I indicated that I would soon be on my bike.

Since then, lots of nice people have been kind enough to comment that “you will be missed”! Assuming that is for good reasons, I am grateful for those comments ......

I’ve also had three people come up to me and ask “What’s wrong, why are you leaving?” So let me come clean ..... nothing’s wrong.

The simple fact is, as I said rather stupidly on Belinda’s show, “I am now 190 years of age and it is time to give somebody else a go”. Incidentally I am not quite that old. It was a number that just came to me when I was answering her questions! Mind you, sometimes on those cold mornings you might think you are that old but it wears off once you get a nice breakfast inside you ......

The fact of the matter is that all of us, whatever we are doing or how much we are enjoying doing it, must recognise that there comes a time to get out. Give someone else a go.

I became the first chair of the Empire Company back in March 1999. I was Vice-Chancellor of USQ at that time and not exactly looking for something to fill my mind! It was decided that the theatre might go ahead more effectively if its operations were put in the hands of a company somewhat more removed from the council. The council was, and is, the owner of the facility and Empire Theatres Pty Ltd is answerable to it, reporting to the Mayor and council members at regular intervals.

As it happens, the general manager of the Theatre, Kerry Saul, and I met with the council yesterday for their latest briefing. We are very fortunate to notice that we seem to be on-side with most members and most of their questions are usually friendly and supportive.

We never take that for granted. We go along to the meeting prepared to give straightforward facts about how the theatre is progressing and why we do what we do. It usually works out OK.

The most important thing to recognise about a theatre, like anything else, is that “being successful without over-spending” is a good starting point for a happy relationship. Over the years I have convinced myself that the Empire IS successful; our owners recognise that and the fact that we are an asset in their own success, politically, socially and in making our city what it is.

It wasn’t always that way. His advocacy of the renovation of the Empire back in the 90s cost Ross Miller the Mayoralty but he can be very proud of the part he played in the theatre’s success.

So where now for our theatres? The board led by new chair Andrew Wielandt is very strong. The staff led by general manager Kerry Saul are excellent.

It doesn’t need someone who is 190 years old to tell them what to do; the opportunities for continued growth and exciting creativity are enormous. I have often said that the theatres, and not least the Armitage Centre opened in 2014, may not define Toowoomba in everyone’s eyes but they don’t do a bad job in helping to make our city the magnificent place that it is.

It’s people like Clive and Conchita Armitage and organisations like Heritage Bank whose generosity has made that possible. It’s people like Don Stevens and many others back in those early days who took up the financial challenges and have been so important.

I have often said that the theatres, and not least the Armitage Centre opened in 2014, may not define Toowoomba in everyone’s eyes but they don’t do a bad job in helping to make our city the magnificent place that it is.