District People - Don Stein AM
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A Fire in the Belly by Don Stein AM In Australia we take great pride in the accomplishments of our outstanding citizens, most of whom become household names. But sometimes, someone remarkable slips through the cracks. Such a person is Don Stein. This humble, down-to-earth, ‘ordinary’ man embodies all the characteristics of the quiet achiever. Born in the middle of the Great Depression and raised on a poultry farm in the quaint bushland suburb of N.S.W, Don credits his parents for giving him the mantra of success – honesty, integrity, respect and trust. After an apprenticeship as a fitter machinist, he worked with the legendary Gibson Battle one of the country’s largest engineering companies and later Coates Hire. There were times when Don put himself in harm’s way to ensure his projects were completed and his expertise and experience stood him in good stead when he started his own company. Back in the 1960s there were no degrees or courses on how to be a successful businessman. It was sink or swim and Don thrived and prospered. Then, incredibly, he was summarily dismissed by his partners and removed from the company he had started. Typical of the man he was, Don started all over again and acknowledges that it was in large part thanks to the loyalty of friends and colleagues that Don Stein Plant Hire became the triumph that it was. He was also actively involved in the industry body, the Australian Earthmovers and Road Contractors Federation, was the inaugural Chairman of Beaconsfield Press, and single-handedly took on the Commissioner for Stamp Duty over the “wet hire” or “dry hire” issue which was to have far ranging implications for the industry. Several other government regulations affecting the industry were also later successfully challenged by Don. What made Don a rare individual was that he never forgot those less fortunate than himself and behind the scenes became a dedicated philanthropist helping to raise money for his beloved Rotary and other charities such as the Microsearch Foundation. He was the inaugural inductee of the Earthmover and Civil Contractor Hall of Fame and in 2011 was appointed as a member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his outstanding contribution to industry and his many charitable causes. His is an incredible story. From a nine-year-old farm boy saving up his pennies for a second-hand bicycle, to a man held in high regard by community leaders, industry heavyweights and politicians, Don simply had the ‘fire in the belly’ to make a difference. A truly inspirational life. |