Glen-Marie Frost was the MC at the anniversary party.  Glen-Marie kindly made her notes available to ASE for this edited version.

I remember Greg Page and his team from the 70s. In those days Sydney always entertained in their homes – wondrous parties with grand style and sophistication with hosts such as James Fairfax, the Ladies Potter, Fairfax and Atwill;  the Hordern family, the Murdochs, the Packers, to name a few.

Greg Page would rise to the occasion sourcing grand marquees, chairs and linen.

The 80s signalled even more lavish parties  with charities and corporations now emerging on the scene to host extravaganzas.

Then more of the same in the 90s.  One wondered if the next one could top yesterday’s – very like the heady days of the amazing Cointreau Balls.

Pages were partners all the way, however, how many of you REALLY knew what extraordinary corporate citizens they were ?

Just in the last 6 years alone,  they have donated a million dollars to charitable institutions.

Who would have thought that back in the 60s a small family company operating out of a garage could today be erecting  a two storey marquee for Louis Vuitton in the heart of the city, or producing the marquee magic for Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban’s wedding,  or delivering a spectacular marquee for a dinner on Fort Denison to win the hearts and the votes of the IOC’s international representatives as we endeavoured to win the bid to stage the Olympics in Sydney.

To quote Rod McGeoch “Page’s supreme efforts contributed to our narrow win”

The rest IS history, Sydney still carries the mantle for being the BEST EVER Olympics and Page’s prototype for corporate hospitality has become the bible for ALL Olympic Games. The IOC had never seen such a high standard of corporate hospitality suites throughout Olympic history and Pages have supplied structures for the last three Olympic games

From the Sydney Olympics in 2000, CHOGM in Qld in 2002, Melbourne Commonwealth Games in 2006 and most recently APEC.

Sadly Greg Page is not with us tonight. Greg passed away in 2003 and is survived by his wife Tess and six children. For those of you who knew him, Greg would have loved tonight – he adored a party.

The team at Page’s have received numerous letters of congratulations but tonight I’m only going to read from three letters sent to the current owners.

From Skye Leckie

“Hi Stephen, There is only one! In my many years of fund-raising I have met a lot of charitable people but you stand out!  You never cease to amaze me at the extent of your care and “can do” attitude.  Whether it is helping my many causes or your own, you have been there. We applaud and thank you.”

From Lady Fairfax

“Pages have assisted in the staging of many happy functions at Fairwater over our long association.  I wish to commend the management and staff for their expertise in logistic management which has contributed to the success of many of these events.”

And from the Prime Minister of Australia The Rt Hon John Howard

“The past 50 years have been characterised by continually changing tastes and technologies, as well as periods of tough trading conditions.  It is a remarkable business achievement to have endured these challenges and to have provided customer service and employment for so long. This endurance is testament to the hard work and talent of many people over the years.
I congratulate Pages on this important occasion and wish the company continued success in the future.”

As we all know, in every successful business there are people who make it happen.

In the mid 90s Stephen Thatcher and Attila Boros became partners in Pages and took the company in a new direction focussing on corporate hospitality and the special events which I referred to earlier.

Attila is the man behind the scenes and I doubt many of you have had the pleasure of meeting him until tonight.

Stephen Thatcher, the whirlwind, is known to us all – his energy, professionalism and generosity of heart has endeared him and Pages to each and every one of us.

Attila Boros and Stephen Thatcher with Tess Page		Glen-Marie Frost

 Social pix from this event