Against the Wind

Never before or since has there been such an outlandish propositionsail 10,500 miles and start a colony from scratch with just convicts. By 1835, about 90 per cent of Sydneys white population was either convicts, ex-convicts, the children of convicts, or those married to a convict. About 1,000 convicts (2.5 per cent of the population) fled inland and became bushrangers, and 4 per cent of the population was jailers. How does that place end up as the land of the fair go? How does it become Australia? This is the story of how the Australian character developed through the prism of one familythe Lloyds. Across many generations, they slowly cast off the emotional and iron chains that bound them when they first stepped ashore at Circular Quay. It is the story of Australia.

For a decade, Mikes right thumbnail was faintly cracked from top to bottom. No matter what he did, he couldnt get rid of it. Then one day, he discovered his great-great-granddaddys certificate of freedom. Inscribed in the remarks section were the words: Nail of right thumb split. That stunning find led to an insight. The old convict was still with uswell, not 100 per cent. But clearly, enough of his genes had been passed on to leave an annoying split in his right thumb, just like the old convict himself. Mike has spent the last thirty years at the cutting edge of finance. For almost half that period, he intensively analysed Rupert Murdochs News Corp and was rated amongst the top three analysts in Australia. He famously crossed swords with Murdoch, who failed to appreciate a sell recommendation. Before joining finance, he was a military intelligence analyst and officer at the Second Cavalry Regiment. He also spent eighteen months as a platoon commander in one of Australias most decorated fighting unitsDelta Company, the Sixth Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment. Mikes varied working career also includes time spent in property development and funds management. In his youth, he started up and developed a small but successful manufacturing and wholesale business. He has also been a journalist and media commentator and has been a regular guest on a number of business TV programs. Mike has three twenty-something children and lives in Sydney, Australia.