“Business is business. It’s not everything, just a very interesting part of life,” Turner told AFR.
“I can’t imagine retiring before 90. Our board may have other ideas. Also, if you’re not relaxed running a business, leave it to others.”
One thing he thanks for his success
“Growing up on an apple orchard 10 miles west of Stanthorpe, Queensland, working in the family business from an early age,” Turner admitted to AFR.
“I went to a one-teacher school for eight years; one teacher for 40 kids across six classes. You were forced to teach yourself to learn, no matter how good the teacher was.”
His strengths
“Most things don’t worry me. I can look at the long term and accept short-term setbacks as temporary.
“Caveat: it only took me 44 years in business to learn that.”
And weakness
“Taking too long to make tough decisions, but I do eventually make them.”
His attitude towards money
“Jude and I are environmentalists; having spare cash helps us do positive things for wildlife. We eat out a bit and own some great small hotels. Possessions don’t matter hugely to me.”
Someone he admires in 2017
“You’ve got to hand it to Donald Trump with that ridiculous-looking hairdo. Even wearing it in public, let alone saying and doing the most outrageous things with a straight face.”
How he unwinds
“Mountain biking on back trails.”
Who influenced his career
“My dad was a progressive, innovative, small-business person and he invited my opinions even from a young age,” he told AFR.
“I suspect my opinions were crap, but what’s interesting is he made me think.”
