company history
Founding Partners
Alan Brown (left) and John Bird.
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Alan Brown arrived in Mackay in August 1944 to take up a position with G E Jones and Company in Victoria Street. Leaving G E Jones and Company he joined the firm of Douglas Gibb and Lewis in July 1947. For the first 5 years he worked as the chief clerk and from then until 1966 as a partner in the firm.
He retired from Douglas Gibb and Lewis in 1966 and opened his own business under the name of AHE Brown in premises situated in the Vanessa Building on the corner of Sydney and Shakespeare Streets.
Because of pressure of work and approaching retirement age he advertised for an experienced employee with the prospects of partnership. John Bird who had recently qualified and was currently in charge of a small accountancy branch in a rural area outside Perth in Western Australia applied. Alan arranged to fly John over for an interview and in due course he joined the staff in Shakespeare Street. Later John joined with Alan in forming the partnership Brown & Bird. By then the business had transferred to Brown Properties Building and they were in bigger and better premises on the first floor.
Under the new partnership the business continued to prosper and staff numbers increased until Alan’s retirement in 1978. Don Graham became the new partner and John the Senior Partner. Don worked in internal audit and retail, construction and the mining industry before joining Brown & Bird in 1975. Don is from one of the early pioneering families of the Sarina district where he was born. This background established Don’s keen interest in all things agricultural. As the canefarmers of the Mackay district would know today Don is totally committed to sound financial management systems for the sugar industry and has continued to work in this area.
Craig Fraser became a partner of the firm in 1985. He had worked in the firm since 1976. Craig came from a banking and finance background. Craig also works in the financial planning area of the firm having obtained his Certified Financial Planning (CFP) status. As the firm continued to grow the need for more space became apparent.
In 1982 the firm moved to 29 Peel Street and continued to grow until we, again, ran out of office space.
In 1996 the firm moved to the AMP Building in Gordon Street until the end of June 2005, when the firm has moved into the CHR Building, Victoria Street.
John Bird retired from the partnership in 1999 having contributed immensely to many community and political groups throughout the region and state.
On John’s departure, Chris Wright and Ian Joblin began as partners in the firm. Chris, having being born in Mackay and growing up on a cane farm, brought extensive experience to the firm in the sugar industry. He has carried on Don Graham's work in this area with our ongoing commitment to the industry.
Ian Joblin was born in New South Wales and moved to Mackay in 1994. Ian’s forte is in the area of management accounting and he brings extensive knowledge to the firm in this area.
In April 2000 Brown & Bird opened an office in Brisbane. Michael Burgess heads our Brisbane team. Michael has worked in Public Practice for the past 19 years in the Brisbane area. He brings extensive knowledge of taxation and business management to the firm.
Michael became a partner of the firm in June 2001.
The partners of Brown and Bird have great pleasure in announcing that Andrew Duck will become a partner of the firm from the 1st July 2006. Andrew was born in Mackay and has been an accountant with Brown and Bird since 1994. He specialises in tax, audit and consulting. Andrew’s contribution to the management team will provide fresh ideas and youthful energy to a partnership that has always tried to blend youth and experience to provide a balanced, long term approach to our advice and client support.
PARTNER LISTING |
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| Alan Brown -- | 1966 - 1978 |
| John Bird -- | 1973 - 1999 |
| Don Graham -- | 1978 - 2001 |
| Bill Langdon -- | 1982 - 1984 |
| Craig Fraser -- | 1985 - Present |
| Derek Cockings -- | 1991 - 1998 |
| Chris Wright -- | 1999 - Present |
| Ian Joblin -- | 1999 - Present |
| Michael Burgess -- | 2001 - Present |
| Andrew Duck -- | 2006 - Present |
