Richard Pratt farewelled again

The loves, the philosophies and the many achievements of industrialist and
philanthropist Richard Pratt received another airing at his memorial service in
Melbourne on Sunday.

But the retelling did not detract from the portrait of strength, wisdom and vitality
hoisted so regularly before and since his death two months ago.
More than 600 people at the state-sponsored service at the Victorian Arts Centre
heard figures from various spheres in which Mr Pratt was prominent speak glowingly
of a man of wealth and generosity.
From the arts, which he supported to an almost unparalleled extent in this country,
the former head of the Australian Business Arts Foundation Winsome McCaughey spoke
of the emotion Mr Pratt poured into the many projects he supported.
"Richard believed the world could be a better place," Ms McCaughey said.
"He made one of the greatest contributions to Australia that has ever been made."
From the world of business, his friend Don Argus, the chairman of BHP, told of a man
ahead of his time, particularly in issues of gender and racial equality in the
workplace.
"Richard theorised that we were all recovering sexists and racists," Mr Argus said.
"Some of us were just slower to recover."
Australian Conservation Foundation director Don Henry focused on Mr Pratt's
commitment to the environment, largely through his creation of a recycling business,
which is one of the world's largest.
Mr Pratt's love and support of sport was recalled by Australian Football League
chief executive Andrew Demetriou.
A decorated Aussie Rules player in his junior VFL days at Carlton, Mr Pratt stepped
into the breach when the club was in dire straits in 2007.
"Almost overnight he changed the club and how it was viewed," Mr Demetriou said.
Mr Pratt, who was Jewish, had also played a major role in bringing together the
"Peace Team", a combined Israeli-Palestinian side that played in an international
tournament in Australia.
"He was a man who knew the simple power of a kind act," Mr Demetriou said.
All speakers made much of Mr Pratt's love of his family, and his son spoke lovingly
of the man he had earlier described as his hero.
No mention, however, was made of his second "family" and his 11-year-old daughter
who lives with her mother in Sydney.
Neither attended Sunday's service.
And no reference was made to his troubles with the Australian Competition and
Consumer Commission, which two years ago earned him a record fine of $36 million
after he admitted his company Visy Industries had engaged in price fixing.
Mr Pratt, one of Australia's wealthiest men, died in April after a long battle with
prostate cancer.