Ita Buttrose spoke to business people from across the region at a breakfast on Wednesday. Picture: Donna Oates
By LIA BICHEL
SHE broke the mould in media, wrote several successful books and had a television mini series made on her.
Ita Buttrose, voted Australia’s most admired woman twice, spoke to more than 300 businesspeople at the Casey-Cardinia Business Breakfast held at the Cardinia Culture Centre in Pakenham yesterday (Wednesday).
Ms Buttrose has a reputation of being a legendary media editor, businesswoman, best-selling author and President of Alzheimer’s Australia and has received an Officer of the Order of Australia for her services to the community, the OBE for her services as a journalist and a Centenary Medal for her service to Australian society in business leadership.
Ms Buttrose said she didn’t become successful without taking risks. She said while many people feared change, she was excited by it. Ms Buttrose urged businesspeople to embrace change and take charge of the future rather than responding to it.
She created create Cleo magazine for the Consolidated and edited Australian Women’s Weekly.
Following her success in magazine, Ms Buttrose became the subject of television mini series Paper Giants: The Birth of Cleo and was played by actress Asher Keddie.
Ms Buttrose now concentrates on several different projects, including being President of Alzheimer’s Australia, a role she is very passionate about.
She urged the businesspeople to also take risks, work out what made them different and said they shouldn’t be afraid to pinch good ideas from competitors.
Ms Buttrose also told guests to ask their customers and employees what could do to improve the business and she urged everyone to love what they do and persevere until they succeed.
Following Ms Buttrose Star News Group Editor Garry Howe spoke at the breakfast about the community paper’s longevity.
“A good newspaper is with its readers from the cradle to the grave,” he said.
“I believe newspapers at the community level have a bright future.
“Sure, things will change over the next five, 10 and 20 years and the way companies like ours will deliver news will evolve to some degree.
“In the meantime, we intend to remain as connected to our community as we have been for the past 104 years.”
Star News Group is a media partner of the business breakfasts, which was also sponsored by Metro Solar and held at Cranbourne Golf Club.
The breakfast was hosted by Cardinia Shire Council, The City of Casey, Melbourne Football Club and Monash University.
