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| McHAPPY CELEBRITIES HELP OUT TO RAISE $2M
Celebrities across Australia to help raise money for seriously ill children and their families
| 15 Nov 2008
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This Saturday 15 November, celebrities nationally will be in a McDonald’s restaurant near you for McHappy Day to help raise funds for seriously ill children and their families.
The goal is to raise $2 million and this year, parents and children around the country will be pleased to know that McDonald’s has expanded the options to donate, making it simple and easy for everyone.
From now until McHappy Day, you can support by purchasing delicious, limited-edition Byron Bay Cookies from McCafé ($2 donation from every $4.75 box), and on McHappy Day you can purchase a Happy Meal (10 cents donation from every Happy Meal), profits from every $2 wristband sold, donating online through the Ronald McDonald House Charities website (www.rmhc.org.au) or in-store, or purchasing a Big Mac on McHappy Day ($1 donation from every Big Mac).
There will be fun and excitement at McDonald’s restaurants throughout the day, including celebrities (Kyle Sandilands, Ricki-Lee, Lincoln Lewis and Elka Graham) and VIPs serving up Big Macs, collecting donations, and loads of other fun stuff such as face painting, balloons and entertainment. To find out which celebrities will be appearing in your local area, please head to www.mchappyday.com.au.
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| AE Smith's Stuart Gibson Smashes Eureka Tower Climb Record
| 24 Oct 2008
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| | Stuart Gibson, Senior Engineer with the Melbourne Construction team, smashed the previous record by 2 minutes to climb the world's tallest residential building in an amazing 9 mins and 10 sec!
Stuart was part of a 20 person AE Smith Melbourne team raising money and taking line honours in the Eureka Tower Charity Challenge - an annual event that calls on teams to scale the iconic building's 89 floors and 1958 steps.
Stuart climbed all 89 stories, 1958 steps in a leg bust, heart pumping 6.2 sec per floor!
TV footage courtesy of National Nine News.
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| AE Smith Team Melbourne Rises to the Challenge
| 24 Oct 2008
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| R to L: Raymond Lee, Stuart Gibson, Rory Long, Sam Waters, James Kinsella, Peter Ferguson Jr, Dallas Cooper (kneeling), Chris Wardle, Matt Paine (kneeling), Ivan Cukanic, Steve Kozsik, Peter Ferguson, David Mason, Ross Duggan, Brad Disher, Antoni Pisa, Susan Campbell, Steve Turner. Missing in action: George Zombos & Leonard Alvarezhernandez.
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A team of 20 from AE Smith Melbourne stepped up one sunny October afternoon to raise money and take line honours in the Eureka Tower Charity Challenge – an annual event that calls on corporate teams to scale the iconic building’s 89 floors and 1,958 steps.
As the tallest residential building in the world, the Eureka Tower poses an interesting endurance test – and AE Smith’s team and individuals went the distance.
Stuart Gibson, AE Smith Senior Engineer, broke the course record finishing all 89 floors of Eureka Tower in an amazing 9 minutes and 10 seconds! (That’s a leg busting, heart burning 6.2 sec per floor!)
AE Smith fielded two teams in the Charity Challenge with one team finishing 3rd place overall and the other in 21st position. Just as importantly, AE Smith’s fundraising efforts also reached great heights – coming in fifth place in the list of Top 10 Fundraising Teams, contributing nearly $2,500 in donations for Whitelion and Interplast charities.
“It was such a great team building event to take on a fitness challenge of this magnitude, and help disadvantaged young people at the same time,” says team captain and AE Smith Marketing Manager Raymond Lee who also runs a Team Fitness Program for AE Smith Melbourne employees.
“The team is fired up and we’re already talking about next year and how we can do better – perhaps even first place team honours in both the event and fundraising efforts,” he adds.
In addition to now knowing each of the 1958 steps of the Eureka Tower intimately, AE Smith has a special and ongoing relationship with the Eureka Tower. During the Melbourne icon’s construction, AE Smith designed and installed all of Eureka Tower’s air conditioning systems and mechanical services. Today, AE Smith proudly provides preventative maintenance and service to the same systems we installed ensuring the environmental comfort of residents and guests alike.
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| COOL BREEZE
Spring issue out now
| Oct 2008
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| The limited edition hardcopy version of the COOL BREEZE is 100% Carbon Neutral and printed on 100% recycled paper by Australia's first certified Carbon Neutral Printer using the latest in environmentally friendly techniques, soy based inks and varnishes.
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| 110 Year Success Story
| Oct 2008
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This year AE Smith commemorates its 110 year anniversary.
From its humble beginnings in 1898 as a one man plumbing business in Richmond, AE Smith has grown into a an industry leading company that’s become one of Australia’s most successful family owned businesses.
The development of AE Smith into a formidable mechanical services company with 12 offices around Australia and New Zealand, 600+ employees and intrinsic involvement in Australasia’s built environment has been anchored around a combination of family values and innovative vision for the future.
AE Smith’s impressive success story is traced through three generations and hundreds of men and women who worked with them for up to fifty years.
From the passion and vision of Albert Edward Smith back in 1898, to its outstanding record of growth into a BRW Top 500 Private Company, AE Smith remains a proudly Australian family owned business that promises to live on for another 110 years.
| (Read more...)
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| AE Smith ute parked in front of AE Smith Hobart office, 1968.
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| | AE Smith team circa 1965.
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| | AE Smith Melbourne Richmond office, circa 1980.
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| | AE Smith Melbourne team, circa 1990.
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| TOP HONOUR FOR WORK ON WORLD CLASS CONVENTION CENTRE
AE Smith Recognised for Engineering Excellence
| 26 Sep 2008
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AE Smith has added another prestigious industry accolade to its collection for their work on the newly completed $115 million Darwin Convention Centre.
The 2008 Engineering Excellence Award was presented to AE Smith at the Engineers Australia Northern Division’s annual Engineering Awards this month.
The coveted top honour was shared with a team of engineering companies appointed as the Convention Centre’s fire engineers.
“We’re very proud to have been recognized at this level for such a high profile project,” comments Mark Jacobson, AE Smith’s Engineering Manager for Queensland.
The rigorous judging process for the Excellence Awards includes reviewing how projects exceed client expectations, their community benefit as well as environmental sustainability.
AE Smith and partner companies Connell Wagner and Sitzler Laing O'Rourke Joint Venture are automatically entered into the Australian Engineering Excellence Awards, to be announced at a ceremony at Parliament House in November.
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| A student project teaches all
| 22 Sep 2008
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When 4th year Mechanical Engineering student, Jonathan Ramajoo approached AE Smith to help prepare a thesis, he didn’t realise he was walking into an exciting new opportunity.
Jonathan’s thesis on System Effect received a distinction – and his other reward is a new role as Graduate Engineer with AE Smith in Brisbane.
“It’s been a great opportunity to know that your thesis has contributed to the company and the industry as a whole,” comments Jonathan, who will now be working on a variety of engineering projects within AE Smith as well as mentored in a four year graduate program.
The decision to welcome a student into AE Smith’s construction division to conduct a thesis assignment was an easy one for Queensland’s Engineering Manager, Mark Jacobson:
“Nothing revitalises a company like the injection of fresh people with new ideas and approaches – and Jonathan’s questions and investigations during his thesis also helped our team question and test old ways of thinking.”
“It’s a great shared learning process,” adds Mark, who’s enjoyed the dual outcomes of new knowledge and a new recruit to mentor through the HVAC industry.
“We’re excited about Jonathan joining our team.”
| (Read more...)
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| AE Smith gets dirty with Greenfleet!
| 4 Sep 2008
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| | Peter Galtry, Frank Pak, Tina Luke (pic left) and Mariane Jopling got their hands dirty on a special tree planting day at Werribee Open Range Zoo organised by Greenfleet.
More than 400 trees got planted close to the rhino enclosure.
Thank you to Sara Gipton and her Greenfleet team for the invitation. A great day was had by all.
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| AE Smith Team enters October Charity Race to the top of Melbourne's Eureka Tower
| 27 August 2008
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| Twenty members of the Melbourne Team Fitness Program are participating in Melbourne's most challenging and unique fundraising event known as the Eureka Tower Charity Challenge.
On Friday, 24 October, AE Smith Team Melbourne will walk, run, climb (or crawl) up the 1,958 stairs to level 89 of the world's tallest residential tower. Their challenge is do this from 1.00pm to 4.00pm... over and over again!
In doing so AE Smith Team Melbourne will step up to the challenge and raise money for disadvantaged young people both at home and abroad through the charity groups: Whitelion and Interplast.
| Whitelion inspires and empowers disconnected young people by providing them with positive relationships and life-changing opportunities.
| Interplast is a charity that provides teams of medical volunteers to undertake programs of plastic and reconstructive surgery and training in neighbouring Asian Pacific countries.
Help us help these young people at risk by sponsoring our climb.
Please visit www.everydayhero.com.au/AE_Smith... click on DONATE NOW
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Donations of $2 or more are tax-deductible and 100% of money raised will be shared equally amongst the charity partners.
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| AE SMITH BRISBANE PARTNERING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Thiess Dempsey House
| 19 August 2008
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The AE Smith team in Brisbane is proud to partner with Childhood Cancer Support (CCS) and Thiess Queensland to resolve an urgent need to expand CCS's accomodation facilities at Herston in Brisbane.
| The Thiess Dempsey House Project involves refurbishing an existing 1920s cottage called Dempsey House and building three new units directly behind.
The units are designed over two levels, each with two bedrooms, a kitchen, lounge, bathroom and laundry facilities. The redevelopment is taking place on a small 400 square metre block and provides room for four cars, rainwater tanks and storage areas.
The accommodation is designed to become a functional home away from home for regional families while their children undergo cancer treatment at hospital in Brisbane, sometimes for up to 12 months.
Construction started in August 2008 and is expected to finish in early 2009 with Thiess Queensland providing ongoing design, project management and engineering expertise.
To make a donation to the Thiess Dempsey House Project click here.
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| ANU Green Carbon study confirms native forest role in combating climate change
| 7 August 2008
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The Australian National University’s Green Carbon research released this week revealed that Australia’s native eucalypt forests store, on average, around three times more carbon than previously estimated.
| Greenfleet CEO, Sara Gipton welcomed the research, commenting that “this reflects anecdotal evidence collected through Greenfleet’s reforestation experience and reinforces the validity of reinstating biodiverse native forests as carbon sinks.”
The ANU research showed that the largest stocks of carbon are found in the tall wet eucalypt forests of Victoria and Tasmania. These forests support trees up to 80 metres tall and can contain an average of more than 1200 tonnes of carbon per hectare, which is up to 10 times more carbon per hectare than previously realised.
The research confirms that natural forests play a critical role in regulating greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere and are part of a comprehensive response to climate change. Natural forests are more resilient to climate change because of their diversity including their capacity to regenerate after fires, resistance to pests and adaptation to changes in water, temperature and solar radiation.
Keeping existing 14.5 million hectares of eucalypt forest in south-east Australia is effectively retaining 25.5Gt CO2 (or avoided annual emissions of 460Mt CO2 per year for the next 100 years), and allowing logged forests to reach their potential is equivalent to avoiding 136 Mt CO2 per year (ie 24% Australia’s GHG emissions).
“Along with avoiding and reducing greenhouse emissions generated by individuals and businesses, protecting Australia’s remaining natural forests and replanting permanent, biodiverse native forests need to be vital elements in Australia’s response to climate change, and showing leadership to other countries with vast forests in our region” Ms Gipton said.
To read the ANU Green Carbon study – visit http://epress.anu.edu.au/green_carbon_citation.html
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| AE Smith takes its responsibility for the protection of the environment and the sustainability of its business very seriously. To help us in the fight against climate change we have partnered with Greenfleet.
Greenfleet is the first not-for-profit forestry organisation in Australia to become an Approved Abatement Provider under the Australian Government’s Greenhouse Friendly™ initiative.
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| THE ENERGY SAVING CHALLENGE IS ON!
Staff incentive with a green twist!
| 5 August 2008
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AE Smith teams across Queensland have been set a "green" challenge by CEO, Andrew Permezel.
The newly announced Greenhouse Challenge is calling on Queensland based AE Smith employees to reduce their household energy use over the next 12 months to not only help the environment - but have a year's worth of electricity bills paid for!
Entries to the Challenge close on 19 September - and participating employees must monitor their household electricity for one year through to October 2009.
The Greenhouse Challenge Winner will be the employee that can demonstrate they've saved the most amount of energy over the coming year. The reward - AE Smith will pay for the winner's annual electricity bill.
"It's a way of encouraging our team to really walk the green talk," comments Andrew Permezel.
"We obviously have a commitment to reducing greenhouse emissions as a company and for our customers, but I'm keen to see our team do the same individually," adds Andrew.
Queensland AE Smith employees wanting to enter the competition must:
| - Have resided at their current address for the last 12 months.
- Submit copies of their electricity bills for the last 12 months.
- Reside at their current address for the next 12 months.
- Tell Andrew Permezel how they're going to save energy.
- Submit copies of their electricity bills for the next 12 months.
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| Positive Attitude Rewarded
| 2 August 2008
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| Trainee draftsman, Steve Kozsik is the latest AE Smith associate to find himself in the spotlight.
Recently nominated for the Training Achievement of the Year accolade, Kozsik was one of four national finalists in the annual AMCA (Air Conditioning and Mechanical Contractors' Association) Awards announced in August.
The Training Achievement Award is a welcome “pat on the back” for Steve, who’s been relishing the opportunities to learn and improve his skills as a draftsperson at AE Smith.
“The accolade means a lot to me – it’s a great way of recognising the hard work that goes into a trainee role,” comments Steve, who’s been with the company for three years.
AE Smith nominated Steve for ACMA’s Training Achievement Award in recognition of his positive attitude towards learning and contribution to the industry. The rigorous assessment process reviewed skills and attitude to determine the finalists from a wide range of national entry applications.
“It’s quite an achievement to be amongst the four finalists and what a way to reward new talent in our industry,” comments AE Smith’s CEO, Andrew Permezel.
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| Prestigious Accolade for AE Smith's David Seedsman
| 2 August 2008
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| AE Smith's Southern Region General Manager has just been presented with a Lifetime Membership of AMCA (Air Conditioning & Mechanical Contracting Association).
Awarded as special recognition of David Seedsman’s contribution and service to the industry, ACMA President, Alex Hall made the presentation at a gala celebration dinner on 2 August in Melbourne.
David’s service in the mechanical contracting industry spans over 40 years and he has been an active member of peak bodies such as ACMA (including a time as President) as well as the Plumbing Industry Commission Advisory Council.
“We congratulate David on this esteemed and much deserved accolade – his service and contribution to our industry has been outstanding,” comments AE Smith’s CEO, Andrew Permezel.
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| 1st Place in The Olympic Dream Run
| 27 July 2008
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| | Congratulations to Stuart Gibson for finishing 1st in the 2008 Olympic Dream Run in Melbourne on Sunday, 27 July (wearing his brand new AE Smith high performance "2XU" Men's Elite Run Singlet no less!).
Stuart finished the 10km course in a blazing 33 minutes and 48 seconds - 26 seconds ahead of 2nd place!
Stuart is a new member to the AE Smith Construction Engineering team and we're delighted to have him join us.
About 2500 people competed in the 2008 event starting at Melbourne Park and finishing at Birrarung Marr. The 10km Olympic Dream is Melbourne's longest established fun run and threads its way past Melbourne city landmarks including the National Gallery of Victoria, Royal Botanic Gardens, Sidney Myer Music Bowl and the Shrine of Remembrance. For more information visit www.olympicdream.com.au.
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| ALL-IN-BASH
Melbourne Team Fitness Program celebrates end of Season 2
| 24 July 2008
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 | Team Melbourne "Season 2"
Front row (L to R): Nicole J, Michael Kiraly, James K, Andrew Permezel, Steuart Livingstone, Antoni P, Raymond Lee, Ivan C. Back row (L to R): Peter McCarthy, Sam W, Darren M, Steve K, David M, Manish T, Brad B, James C, George Z, Tate M, Denver L, Stuart Gibson, Leonard A. (Absent: Ella O, Matt Y, Peter Kinsella).
| What better way to celebrate the end of the 2nd Melbourne Team Fitness Program than with a special event!
Normally the 20 strong fitness team would train in groups of 10 starting at alternate times. But under the watchful eye of professional trainer Stu Livingstone from Corporate Strength Inc, Week 12 saw the whole group compete in team events including:
| - Touch football
- The dreaded "Beep" test (Stuart Gibson maxing out at a credible 15-9)
- Maximum push ups
- 5 minute maximum distance run
- Circuit training with free weights
- Poison ball
- 50 pound sled pull
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| For the record, the day ended in a draw with each team scoring 5 points a piece.
But it's not all just fun and games. The Team Fitness Program is making a real difference in the lives of participants both professionally and personally. This in turn translates to improved:
| - Fitness and weight loss;
- Team morale and spirit;
- Staff retention and attraction;
- Intra-office communication; and
- Ultimately heightened professional performance at the team and individual level.
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| See more pics at the AE Smith Facebook site.
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| COOL BREEZE BLOWS IN
A new quarterly newsletter for staff and friends of AE Smith
| 10 July 2008
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| The limited edition hardcopy version of the COOL BREEZE is 100% Carbon Neutral and printed on 100% recycled paper by Australia's first certified Carbon Neutral Printer using the latest in environmentally friendly techniques, soy based inks and varnishes.
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| AE Smith Brisbane team part of winning Riparian Plaza formula
| 25 June 2008
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 | Located in the heart of Brisbane CBD, Riparian Plaza (pictured above left) beat more than 90 finalist competing for the top prize at the 2008 Innovation & Excellence Awards hosted by the Property Council of Australia.
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Riparian Plaza - Brisbane's first mixed-use elite, high-rise apartment - has just been voted Australia's Best Overall Development - taking out the top spot at the industry's most prestigious honours at the recent 2008 Property Council of Australia Innovation & Excellence Awards.
As lead Design & Construction Mechanical Contractors on the land mark development, AE Smith is proud to be part of an award winning team.
Congratulations to Riparian Plaza!
To see the 2008 Awards Magazine click here or for more information about AE Smith's involvement contact Mark Jacobson at AE Smith Brisbane.
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| Major Milestone - Celebrating 30 years with AE Smith
| June 2008
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 | Congratulations Mark from all your AE Smith friends and colleagues on achieving 30 years service (Mark stands far left with members of his Brisbane Service team).
| This month marks 30 years of service for AE Smith’s Mark Lovelady.
Some marriages don’t even last that long... but Mark puts the success of the relationship down to the positive and open management style of the company.
“The support within AE Smith is pretty special,” he comments.
Starting as an apprentice in 1977, Mark has worked his way through a host of roles to become General Manager first in Townsville back in 2000 and now AE Smith Service in Brisbane as of 2007.
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| Greenfleet Selected as Finalist in the World Environment Day Awards
| 19 May 2008
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As a proud long-term supporter of Greenfleet, we're delighted to inform you that Greenfleet has been selected as a finalist in the World Environment Day Awards 2008 in the ‘Meeting the Greenhouse Challenge’ category.
| These prestigious awards are arranged by the United Nations Association of Australia to acknowledge actions being taken at a local level that have a global impact.
| The 2008 awards are themed, ‘Kick the Habit! Towards a Low Carbon Economy’ and focus on taking responsibility to reduce our dependence on carbon as part of our lifestyles and working practices.
Sara Gipton, Greenfleet CEO said, "Greenfleet’s selection as a finalist is really recognition of the tremendous efforts of our supporters and I would like to thank [them] for [their] ongoing commitment to the cause."
Further information can be found at the UNAA’s website: http://www.unaavictoria.org.au/pages/awards-program/world-environment-day-awards.php
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| AE SMITH - AN OUTBACK BALLAD
Longreach, Queensland
| 14 May 2008
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The Company motto is lean and green… you must adapt or die,
For our Mother Earth is suffering, o'er land and sea and sky.
She labours with love as Mothers do - suffering for each nation,
And AE Smith lends a keen-green hand of experience and innovation.
We went travelling out to Longreach, Queen City of the West,
Where four thousand lucky people live, in the country of the blest.
Through the Gateway to the Outback, land of hope and history and myth,
Where the Hall of Fame and QANTAS, are cooled by AE Smith.
Where the cooee of the stockmen, and the lonely bush wife's fears
Join with early pilot's courage... and the spirit of the pioneers.
Where the hardy Thomson' s winding, artery of an ancient land,
Where sacred shades still linger... in each rock and grain of sand.
There's a rumour 'round the back-blocks... passed about by gents and ladies,
That Old Nick has queried AE, for a quote to cool down Hades:
''I'll want a discount too, old son - a fair slice or I'll throw a seven;
The same you gave the other side when you air-conditioned Heaven."
"We'll take the job" said the CEO; "and you can bet we'll do it well.
But you'll have to change your motto 'cause it won't be... hot as hell."
Now Old Nick's been around a while, and he likes to spin and spiel:
''I've got a reference from St. Peter - a couple more will seal the deal."
"You can back our brand on air-con... we manage environment and power
In commercial and residential: check Riparian Plaza and the mighty Eureka Tower;
Through the Gateway to the Outback - land of hope and history and myth,
The Stockman's Hall of Fame and |
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