Tronson du Coudray work 'Camoflage'
How many times have we heard that a celebrity from the cinema, entertainment and sports, who made small fortunes then went bust in business, and now we have read of another, possibly Australia’s most famous motor racing name, Dick Johnson.
A few years back News.com article stated Australian motorsport legend Dick Johnson has revealed he is broke and unwell after losing a staggering $9.1 million. Failed business deals forced him to mortgage his $2.1 million Gold Coast property in 2008 and a $1.3 million factory that housed the most successful team in the history of V8 Supercars.
The three-time Bathurst winner lost $4 million in savings and was forced to sell the priceless race cars that helped to make him one of the most standout drivers in Australian history. Dick Johnson said he is not a healthy man, the reasons stem from that period of his life - couldn't sleep, couldn't eat and constantly felt sick in the guts. From that day he has constantly battled problems that he says has made him an old man.
The News.com article quoted Dick Johnson: "It may floor you to know I haven't drawn a wage from my business since 2008. Some people think I am a rich racing legend worth a fortune. But my wife and I have been living on less than $1500 a month.”
Over these 41 years I am able to list numerous famous Australian sports people including cricketers whom experienced spectacular business disasters and many of them through the actions of others who fell into business disrepute taking these elite sports people down with them.
Tronson du Coudray work 'Intuition'
Range of situations
The choice of business seems not to be solely to blame. There are a string of variables that illustrate that it is not only that these types of people do not recognise the ruthlessness of business enterprise, but that they are swept away as in the business of hype associated with the cinema, entertainment and sport.
More so, there is a certain edge that these people need to function as their best, and a sharp talking associate who knows how to display and energise this ill defined edge, has many of these people swooping to give them what seems like endless pits of money for the most audacious business enterprisers that would send any bank manager into a state of unbelief.
Having said that, many have made good, but most of these have been down the path of proven and tested business plans that test the waters and have some idea that although a little slow and measured, it will work and bring solid profit share.
It is not necessarily the type of business although this can be a factor, rather it is how such plans are put together, who is involved, how the nature of the proposed ‘quick buck’ is gleaned and a clear defined money trail with checks and balances all the way through the process.
Tronson du Coudray work 'English Afternoon'
Equally applies to church / mission
This equally applies to church enterprisers and many a church council / deacons / eldership (whatever form of church governance) has exercised more caution than business advantage only to find their coffers being eaten away by inflation whereas those with more flair has lost money by being more flamboyant.
It is a tricky road and well reasoned people around anyone in such a situation whether it is an illustrious celebrity or in church governance – it wasn’t all that long ago where many congregation members in a church in Victoria went down such a path along many in the community, all of whom lost their life’s savings.
As an evangelist, this same lesson has been presented in relation to Salvation to the sure and steady road rather than some new seditious religion or religious ideas that leads to disaster at every level.
All of us know that one false move and it's all over-red-rover – ministry as in business depends on a multitude of contingencies, not least keeping your nose clean. In my 41 years engaged in Australian ministry it applies:
Australian Cricket Team Chaplain 17 years Ret. 2000
Life After Cricket from 2001
Founding the Sports & Leisure Ministry 1982-2000
Establishing Chaplaincies in Professional Sport across the Nation 1982-2000
Numerous International Study Tours and speaking at seminars
Olympic Ministry since 1984
Olympic Ministry Medal 2009 presented by Carl Lewis Olympian of the century
Australian Institute of Sport Elite Athlete Respite since 1992
Chairman of Well-Being Australia 2000 –
Laguna Quays Respite ministry for missionaries
Establishing the PSI Young Writer ministry with Christian Today
There is no magic wand in this, there is none of this 'instant success' stuff, it takes time and a false move can bring calamity upon a ministry as upon a business. This is why false claims upon a minister is so deadly and many have had to work through such situations. Rev Dr Rowland Croucher (John Mark Ministries) has focused on this area for 40 years.
Tronson du Coudray work 'Bureaucracy'
Dr Mark Tronson is a Baptist minister (retired) who served as the Australian cricket team chaplain for 17 years (2000 ret) and established Life After Cricket in 2001. He was recognised by the Olympic Ministry Medal in 2009 presented by Carl Lewis Olympian of the Century. He mentors young writers and has written 24 books, and enjoys writing. He is married to Delma, with four adult children and grand-children. Dr Tronson writes a daily article for Christian Today Australia (since 2008) and in November 2016 established Christian Today New Zealand.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at