Auction Stations!
Newcastle Herald
Tuesday March 14, 2000
IN his time wielding the gavel, auctioneer Pat Slattery has sold off some unusual items - an RAAF Winjeel training aircraft and
a massive Navy floating 'slave dock' among them.
Now in business for himself as Slattery Auctions Australia, Mr Slattery is gearing up to
put two Australian Navy minesweepers under the hammer.
Mr Slattery set on his chosen career path from the time he left Marist Brothers, Parramatta, in 1969.
He gained initial experience as an assistant valuer at the Valuer Generals Department, joined Pitt Son & Badgery as
a stock and station agent, then moved to L.J. Hooker as a
cadet auctioneer before linking with Australia's largest
commercial auctioneers, Pickles & Co.
In his 17 years in senior roles with Pickles, Mr Slattery worked in both Sydney and
the UK as well as conducting many of the largest commercial auctions around Australia.
In 1992 he took a well-earned rest, moving wife Roslyn and their six children to Europe
for a year of family travel and international education.
On his return to Australia
Mr Slattery joined Gamers Auctions in Newcastle.
Now he has put together a management team boasting
a total of more than 60 years
in the industry and struck
out on his own.
Along with headquarters and auction rooms at Hexham, the company has established an office in Chifley Tower in the Sydney CBD.
'We've done that to ensure a prompt consultation and valuation service for major clients based in Australia's largest city,' Mr Slattery said.
'I've got a dynamic and service oriented team together
and we're out to provide new levels of customer service and professionalism.'
Despite a busy work and
family schedule, Mr Slattery still finds time to play an active role in community groups and charity work, lending his skills to a number of fundraising functions.
His hobby list is a brief one - 'Rugby, rugby and rugby'.
He has also played an active role in the game, spending a number of years on the board
of Hunter Junior Rugby Union as both president and secretary as well as carrying out many other roles.
It comes as no surprise that the first commercial sponsorship entered into by Slattery Auctions Australia is major
support for the Hamilton Hawks Rugby team in the Newcastle premiership.
© 2000 Newcastle Herald