Heroic Misadventures launches in the UK

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Western Australia’s successful gold-miner, businessman and author, Ron Manners, visited London recently for the launch of his widely-acclaimed, libertarian read Heroic Misadventures (Australia: Four Decades – Full Circle).

WA Agent General, Kerry Sanderson attended the release of the new book which provides a unique perspective into WA’s economic development over the past four decades, at a launch event which took place at the Institute of Economic Affairs in London on 8th January 2010.
 
Heroic Misadventures described as an inspiring, entertaining and practical ‘text book’ for individual freedom, takes on the form of part autobiography by Kalgoorlie-born Mr Manners, a hugely versatile man who has had his share of misadventures but has repeatedly succeeded in the highly competitive WA gold mining industry and beyond.

The book includes a collection of paper clippings and other interesting snippets collected over the years by the author, and many colourful accounts of different events and people that helped shape Australia, to paint an informative inside tour of the past, and analyzing the reasons for the country’s economic successes and failures.

Mr Manners sums up his thoughts on entrepreneurship in the mining industry and adopting libertarian principles for success in his book:

"Let me suggest that the 1854 Eureka stockade and the 1915 Anzac Gallipoli experience predominate, so let's take up the worthy baton in life's relay and get on with the job of defending our rights and freedom to prospect, our freedom to explore and our freedom to produce, with minimum interference. We have the modern tools to continue the Eureka Revolt; without spilling blood. We have to work smarter at it, just as the enemies of industry are working smarter at closing us down. We have technology, economics and morality on our side -so all we need is the physical courage and the moral courage to win. Our ivelihoods depend on us winning these battles, but it goes beyond this. If Australia is to achieve its potential, it depends more than ever on people such as yourselves relentlessly pursuing these strategies to keep the Eureka dream alive.”1

On a personal note, Manners was born into a family that had long association with Kalgoorlie mining town. His grandfather, W.G. Manners, the son of a Ballarat prospector, established a mining and engineering business, W.G. Manners & Co, in 1895. A fourth generation prospector, Manners studied electrical engineering at the Kalgoorlie School of Mines before assuming management of the family business in 1955. He expanded and diversified the company which has evolved to become the Mannwest Group. Between 1972 and 1995 he floated several Australian listed mining companies, notably Croesus Mining NL. During his tenure as chairman, the company produced 1.275 million ounces of gold.

Mr Manners is currently the founder and Executive Director of the Mannkal Economic Education Foundation, a free-market think tank aimed at strengthening the Australian free market system .

Copies of Heroic Misadventures can be ordered online at www.heroicmisadventures.com


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WA Agent General Kerry Sanderson with Ron Manners at the launch of his new book.

 

1 Manners, A., Heroic Misadventures, Australia: Four decades-Full circle, 1970-2009, Quality
Press, Western Australia, 2009, p.277