Howard Michell
George Howard Michell
He was a director of the family company, GH Michell and Sons, for 60 years, and instrumental in its rise to be the largest wool processing company in the world.
Born in Adelaide, South Australia, Michell was educated at Prince Alfred College.
Early life
Michell was born in Adelaide on 3 August 1913 to George Howard Michell and Annie Jane Walters
Michell was an active sportsman his whole life. He was a
On 3 December 1938 Michell married Christine Valerie Tipping at St. Andrew's Church, Walkerville.[2]
Mt Bogong tragedy
In August 1936, at the age of 23, Michell set out on a cross-country skiing expedition to
Late on the night of 16 August Michell reached the settlement at Glen Valley and raised the alarm. Search parties totalling eighty men set out the following morning. Michell, suffering frostbite to his hands and feet, was taken to
A party of seven searchers located Hull and Cole early on the 18th.[6] Using improvised stretchers, they were brought to Glen Valley. Hull began to recover but little hope was held for Cole, who was delirious and badly frostbitten. Cole died late on the night of the 19th.
The following year, the Royal Humane Society of Australasia awarded Michell and Hull each a silver medal for gallantry.[7] The ordeal led to the establishment of snow-lines and series of refuge huts on Bogong to render shelter to future skiers; these include the Cleve Cole Hut (built 1937) and Michell Hut (1967). Michell Hut was burnt in the bushfires of 2003, and a replacement built in 2005.[8]
GH Michell and Sons
A couple of years after the Mt Bogong tragedy, Michell became managing director of the family company, GH Michell and Sons, then based at Hindmarsh. During his time, the company was buying 10–15% of the entire Australian wool clip.[1]
In the 1940s after the imperative of wartime production had passed, Michell set about modernising the company's operations. State-of-the-art British Combing machines were imported, using both the traditional Noble type and the more efficient French type.[9] This enabled an increase in the overall output of wool tops by 30%, as well as the use of shorter-fibered wool varieties, which previously had been sent overseas for processing. The quality of tops was also improved by this method, producing wool suitable for the manufacture of fine clothing.[10][9] In 1947, Michell pioneered an incentive wage scheme at the company's Hindmarsh and Fremantle processing facilities, whereby the typical worker could earn an average of 27% above the award wage for production beyond standard output levels.[9]
Michell consolidated its operations to its present Salisbury site in 1973. He also drove an international expansion of the company's wool and tannery operation, particularly in China and Ireland. In 1987, when the company closed down its wool processing operations at Botany Bay, Michell established an 8 ha (20-acre) industrial park, Lakes Business Park, on the site.[1]
Philanthropy
Howard and Christine Michell were keen supporters of the performing and visual arts. They made considerable contributions to the Art Gallery of South Australia, both financially and of works. They were involved in setting up the gallery's foundation in 1980. They also set up an endowment fund to support and purchase the works of young and emerging artists.[1]
In 1990 Michell was appointed a
References
- ^ a b c d e "International face of wool industry". The Advertiser. 4 August 2012. p. 80.
- ^ "Charming Wedding Group at St. Andrew's Church". The Advertiser. Adelaide. 5 December 1938. p. 6. Retrieved 15 December 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Mick Hull - pioneer skier, adventurer and business leader". Trove. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
- ^ "LOST SKIERS – A Mountaineering Drama – MAN DIES AFTER RESCUE – TALE OF TERRIBLE PRIVATION". Northern Times. Canarvon, WA: Trove, National Library of Australia. 22 August 1936. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
- ^ "Lost in the Bush – SKIIERS' [sic] DESPERATE PLIGHT – WITHOUT FOOD OR SHELTER – SEARCH PARTY SETS OUT". Geraldton Guardian and Express. Trove, National Library of Australia. 18 August 1936. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
- ^ "SKIER DIES AFTER RESCUE – Searchers' Exhausting Journey". Western Mail. Perth, WA: Trove, National Library of Australia. 27 August 1936. p. 38. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
- ^ "Awards for Survivors of Victorian Snow Tragedy". The Advertiser. 1 June 1937. p. 18.
- ^ "Michell Hut". Kosciuszco Huts Association – Michell Hut. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
- ^ a b c "NEW INDUSTRY FOR W.A." The West Australian (SECOND ed.). Perth. 21 June 1947. p. 11. Retrieved 15 December 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
- The Chronicle. Adelaide. 26 June 1947. p. 8. Retrieved 15 December 2015 – via National Library of Australia.