James Tuckerman, Editor-In-Chief, Anthill Magazine

Alan Bond’s name has haunted the Australian media in 2008.

And it has me conflicted.

As a child, I remember Australia winning the America’s Cup and Alan Bond’s prominent involvement. But I also remember the circumstances that led to his imprisonment in 1997, when he deceptively siphoned $1.2 billion from Bell Resources to rescue the Bond Corporation (then, the biggest corporate fraud in Australia’s history).

In particular, as a young law student with an interest in journalism, I remember Paul Barrie’s masterfully coordinated ‘run-in’ with Bond on ‘the court house steps’ after airing a series of reports as an investigative reporter for ABC’s Four Corners leading up to the trial. (If anyone can find the footage, I’d love to link it.)

This year, Alan Bond re-entered the BRW 200 Rich List.

I don’t know about anyone else, but while I can’t get over his wrong-doings, Alan Bond’s phoenix-like return has ignited a strange, quiet admiration in me, which has prompted me to write the following letter and make the following proposition:

You will never go hungry. Why not give it back?

Here goes..

Dear Mr Bond,

As an Australian, albeit London born, you will know that the Australian media can be unforgiving. However, you will also understand that the Australian people love a comeback.

Your return this year to the BRW Rich List prompted admiration from many of your fellow Australians. But it also unearthed a great deal of latent resentment.

You understand why that might be so, so I won’t labour the point, except to say that your actions, leading up to your conviction in 1997, cost shareholders in Bell Resources and the Bond Corporation $1.2 billion (at least).

This might sound like an over-simplification, but it is what history will show.

This year, you were reported as having an estimated wealth of $265 million. As such, I would like to present you with the following proposition:

Give 90% of it back.

I promise that you won’t starve. In fact, you will continue to make bundles of cash and live extremely comfortably with the $2.65 $26.5 million [thanks for correcting my arithmetic] still in your pocket. You will continue to amass your fortune and may even, in time, return the remaining shareholder losses, if that should become your intention.

Best of all, you will gain the admiration of your fellow citizens.

And when that certain day comes, as it does for us all, when you lay your head down for good, you will rest comfortably in the knowledge that your family, your peers and Australia as a whole respects you deeply as one of Australia’s greatest entrepreneurs, ever.

You will be remembered for your successful involvement in the America’s Cup. You will be remembered for your mistakes. But eclipsing all that will be the collective understanding that you lost it all, fought hard and gave it back.

I hope that you will give deep consideration to this letter, as it was put together with the involvement of Anthill magazine’s readership - Australia’s current and next generation of entrepreneurial men and women, business builders who take their lead from the successes and failures of those iconic figures that came before them.

Thank you for your attention and I wish you well.

Yours sincerely,
James Tuckerman
Founder / Editor-In-Chief
Anthill Magazine

A brief history of Bond’s activities can be found on wikipedia.

Should Alan Bond be given a chance to redeem himself? Does my letter make sense? Am I barking to the wind? Will he always be a devil in the eyes of Australians?

Whatever the case, I plan to get a version of this letter on his desk, preferably in his hands, including whatever input and thoughts you, Anthill readers, care to submit. Any tips on how to reach the man himself would also be helpful.

So… want to help me write an open letter to Alan Bond?