Question

Geoff Brash, who died in 2010, was a gregarious Australian businessman and philanthropist who encouraged the young to reach their potential. Born in Melbourne to Elsa and Alfred Brash, he was educated at Scotch College. His sister, Barbara, became a renowned artist and printmaker. His father, Alfred, ran the Brash retail music business that had been founded in 1862 by his grandfather, the German immigrant Marcus Brash, specializing in pianos. It carried the slogan “A home is not a home without a piano.”In his young days, Brash enjoyed the good life, playing golf and sailing, and spending some months travelling through Europe, having a leisurely holiday. He worked for a time at Myer department stores before joining the family business in 1949, where he quickly began to put his stamp on things. In one of his first management decisions, he diverged from his father’s sense of frugal aesthetics by re-carpeting the old man’s office while he was away. After initially complaining of his extravagance, his father grew to accept the change and gave his son increasing responsibility in the business.After World War II (1939-1945), Brash’s had begun to focus on white goods, such as washing machines and refrigerators, as the consumer boom took hold. However, while his father was content with the business he had built, the younger Brash viewed expansion as vital. When Geoff Brash took over as managing director in 1957, the company had two stores, but after floating it on the stock exchange the following year, he expanded rapidly and opened suburban stores, as well as buying into familiar music industry names such as Allans, Palings and Suttons. Eventually, 170 stores traded across the continent under the Brash’s banner.Geoff Brash learned from his father’s focus on customer service. Alfred Brash had also been a pioneer in introducing a share scheme for his staff, and his son retained and expanded the plan following the float.Geoff Brash was optimistic and outward looking. As a result, he was a pioneer in both accessing and selling new technology, and developing overseas relationships. He sourced and sold electric guitars, organs, and a range of other modern instruments, as well as state-of-the-art audio and video equipment. He developed a relationship with Taro Kakehashi, the founder of Japan’s Roland group, which led to a joint venture that brought electronic musical devices to Australia.In 1965, Brash and his wife attended a trade fair in Guangzhou, the first of its kind in China; they were one of the first Western business people allowed into the country following Mao Zedong’s Cultural Revolution. He returned there many times, helping advise the Chinese in establishing a high quality piano factory in Beijing; he became the factory’s agent in Australia. Brash also took leading jazz musicians Don Burrows and James Morrison to China, on a trip that reintroduced jazz to many Chinese musicians. He stood down as Executive Chairman of Brash’s in 1988, but under the new management, debt became a problem, and in 1994 the banks called in administrators. The company was sold to Singaporean interests and continued to trade until 1998, when it again went into administration. The Brash name then disappeared from the retail world. Brash was greatly disappointed by the collapse and the eventual disappearance of the company he had run for so long. But it was not long before he invested in a restructured Allan’s music business. Brash was a committed philanthropist who, in the mid-1980s established the Brash Foundation, which eventually morphed, with other partners, into the Soundhouse Music Alliance. This was a not-for-profit organization overseeing and promoting multimedia music making and education for teachers and students. The Soundhouse offers teachers and young people the opportunity to get exposure to the latest music technology, and to use this to compose and record their own music, either alone or in collaboration. The organization has now also established branches in New Zealand, South Africa and Ireland, as well as numerous sites around Australia.​сделать эссе. помогите

Answer 1

Ответ:

Brash was a committed philanthropist who, in the mid-1980s, established the Brash Foundation, which eventually morphed, with other partners, into the Soundhouse Music Alliance. This was a not-for-profit organisation overseeing and promoting multimedia music making and education for teachers and students. The Soundhouse offers teachers and young people the opportunity to get exposure to the latest music technology, and to use this to compose and record their own music, either alone or in collaboration. The organisation has now also established branches in New Zealand, South Africa and Ireland, as well as numerous sites around Australia.

Answer 2

Thank you for providing information about Geoff Brash and his life. Geoff Brash was indeed a prominent Australian businessman and philanthropist with a strong background in the music and retail industry. Here's a summary of the key points you mentioned:

1. Early Life and Education: Geoff Brash was born in Melbourne to Elsa and Alfred Brash. He received his education at Scotch College. His family had a strong connection to the music business, with his father, Alfred, running the Brash retail music business, which had been established by his grandfather, Marcus Brash, in 1862.

2. Career in the Family Business: After some personal pursuits, including travel and work at Myer department stores, Geoff Brash joined the family business in 1949. He quickly began making changes and expanding the company's operations.

3. Business Expansion: Under Geoff Brash's leadership, the Brash's music business expanded significantly. He took over as managing director in 1957 and oversaw the company's growth. It went public on the stock exchange in 1958 and opened suburban stores, acquiring other music industry names along the way.

4. Customer Service and Employee Share Scheme: Geoff Brash continued his father's emphasis on customer service and expanded the share scheme for staff. This employee share scheme was a pioneering move in the industry.

5. Innovation and International Ventures: Brash was known for his forward-looking approach. He was an early adopter of new technology in the music industry, sourcing and selling modern instruments and audio/video equipment. He also developed relationships with international figures like Taro Kakehashi, founder of Japan's Roland group, leading to joint ventures in electronic musical devices.

6. Business Ventures in China: Geoff Brash and his wife visited China in 1965, shortly after the Cultural Revolution. He returned to China multiple times, contributing to the establishment of a high-quality piano factory in Beijing and introducing jazz music to Chinese musicians through visits with jazz musicians like Don Burrows and James Morrison.

7. Later Years and Company Troubles: Geoff Brash stepped down as Executive Chairman of Brash's in 1988. However, the company faced financial difficulties under new management, leading to administrators being called in by the banks in 1994.

Geoff Brash's life and career are a testament to his dedication to the family business, his innovation in the music industry, and his willingness to embrace international opportunities, particularly in China. His legacy includes not only his business acumen but also his contributions to the world of music and philanthropy in encouraging young people to reach their potential.