HUTCHENS, DESMUND FENTON "Des"

DESMUND FENTON HUTCHENS

BEc(Com) FCPA(HLM) FFAICD AFIML MFEI MREI

Born Lameroo SA 16 Feb 1938.

Passed away peacefully, aged 87 after a long battle with cancer.

Proud son of Murray Fenton and Audrey Eva (nee Broster).

Proud husband of Carole (for 58 years) and proud father of

Matthew (50) and Briony (46) and grandad of Isabelle (11) and Olivia (7).

The photo is of Des, dated January 1973 at age 34, for a passport for first business trip to USA after turning around and saving from closure the Australian manufacturing operations of a USA parent company (350 employees in Australia).

In the 15 years up to his planned early retirement from running companies in 1986, in addition to acquiring 21 properties, Des had been responsible for saving/creating over 1000 jobs in Australia which would have otherwise gone offshore—and thousands more through the economic multiplier.

For him, the ultimate compliment of which he was so proud was that Sir Donald Bradman, who sat on the Board of two of the companies of which Des was Managing Director, (as well as several others including Argo as Chairman, Kelvinator, Fauldings etc.) when asked to recommend an additional SA Trustee for the Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA) recommended Des on the basis that he was “the greatest thing since sliced bread” in the words of the local CEDA Secretary.

After retiring from running companies, Des managed all his own properties, both residential and commercial and other investments and acquired an Agent’s license to occasionally help others with the sale/purchase of properties and/or businesses.

Des gave time to raise thousands of dollars for charities through service in Lions and Rotary lnternational Clubs (President West Beach Lions 1979/80, President Elect North Adelaide Rotary 1989/90).

Over the years he travelled fairly extensively both for business and leisure with the family—UK/Europe five times (including Concord New York to London in 1979), USA five times, Asia five times, New Zealand four times and all states and mainland territories of Australia several times.

At Des’s request a family funeral only will be held.