ORDINARY BLOKE, EXTRAORDINARY LIFE
Ashley Goldsworthy
Foreword by Cardinal George Pell and Introduction by John Howard
Paperback, 396 pages, $44
May 2022 Release
ISBN 9781922815064
"Ashley’s story is one of hard work, commitment, integrity and a
touch of serendipity. It is also one of love, family and faith." - Tess
Livingstone
"He is an outstanding example of Catholic social mobility in a
society which was open to this and of the fact that an honorable man can
become rich and successful in Australia through hard work and ability
and without losing or hiding his Catholic faith and integrity." -
Cardinal George Pell
"He reflects the broad church character which I have always found to
be important in the Liberal Party. Ashley is a strong believer in
private enterprise, individual responsibility, and limited government.
His socially conservative attitude leads him to be impatient with
political correctness, but not in a manner which is intolerant of
others." - John Howard OM AC
"Ashley Goldsworthy is a latter-day Bert Facey and his memoirs are a
contemporary business version of Facey’s A Fortunate Life,1 the classic
tale of growing up tough in rural Western Australia before going to
Gallipoli." - Tony Abbott AC
"Ashley Goldsworthy emerges from these pages as that greatest of
achievements: a real human being, not perfect but truly alive. Ordinary
perhaps, but with a story to tell that is even more extraordinary than
even he may realise. And it is not over." - Archbishop Mark Coleridge
"Ordinary Bloke, Extraordinary Life is a unique autobiography from a
unique Australian. The book inspires us to aim high, to never give up
and to always give back.
At the same time, Ashley’s book reminds us to take time, to pause, to
smell the roses and perhaps to write some verse on one’s own journey
through life." - Larry Anthony
"I first came to know and admire Ash Goldsworthy because of our
shared passion for innovation, taking the long view and changing
corporate cultures." - Barry Jones AC
***
Ashley Goldsworthy’s life experiences can only be described as
extraordinary. His 85 years have traversed seven careers, after leaving
school unsure about what he wanted to do. He sat on the boards of over
20 public and private companies in Australia, the USA and Malaysia; he
was CEO of Australia’s then largest construction company; CEO of a
retail bank; Chairman of an international construction company; deputy
CEO of one of Australia’s largest insurance companies; Director of
Economic Statistics for the Federal Government, and World President of
the International Federation for Information Processing. His
extra-curricular activities include board positions in a casino, ballet,
theatre and circus, educational institutions, governmental councils,
not-for-profit organisations, and professional societies. He was
Professor of Leadership and Dean of the School of Business at Bond
University. Ashley also owned and operated several very successful
vocational educational companies, and served as Federal President of the
Liberal Party of Australia. He graduated from four Australian
universities and two overseas universities in accounting, business,
public administration, science, theology, and canon law; and is
currently reading for a Doctorate of Jurisprudence. His life has been
enriched by 91 overseas trips. A Fellow of 11 professional accounting,
management, finance, and computing societies. Honoured by the Queen as
an Officer of the British Empire (OBE), Officer of the Order of
Australia (AO), Centenary Medal. Invested as a Knight of the Sovereign
Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes, and of
Malta, and a Papal Knight in the Order of St. Sylvester. He has
published two volumes of poetry and over 140 papers in information
technology and management, and two books on leadership. Married to
Shirley for 65 years, they have four children, ten grand-children and
six great-grandchildren.
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