PG . 13
In 1950 he returned to Myer and was made an executive director in 1955 .
That year he married Sarah Hordern , a member of the Hordern retailing family from Sydney . The couple had three children , Sidney , Rupert and Samantha , and enjoyed a happy marriage of 66 years . An avid sportsman , still skiing into his late 80s , Bails was a keen tennis player , swimmer and lifelong supporter of the Richmond Football Club .
Bails was influential in the Myer business from his earliest days in the organisation . He and his elder brother Ken believed the future for the retailer lay in the opening of suburban shopping centres to serve Melbourne ’ s sprawling new suburbs .
Despite some reluctance from incumbent management , they commissioned research and pushed the idea , which was eventually accepted . The first suburban centre , Chadstone , was opened in 1960 .
Through the 1960s , with Ken serving as managing director , the brothers successfully pushed their decentralisation agenda developing more suburban centres and expanding the Myer business nationally . In 1972 , following the successful launch of Target , Bails stepped down from his executive position at Myer but remained on the board in a nonexecutive role . He was appointed non-executive chairman in 1978 following the retirement of his brother , Ken .
When the company was hit by a slump during a major recession in 1983 , Bails was called back into executive management . He served as executive chairman and was instrumental in negotiating a successful merger with Coles . He then served as deputy chairman of Coles Myer from 1986 to 1994 .
Bails also played a significant role in business outside the family retailer . He served as a director and chairman of National Mutual ( 1978- 1992 ) and had board positions with Cadbury Schweppes , Henry Jones , Elders IXL , The Commonwealth Bank , Ten Network Holdings and NM Rothschild and Sons . Inspired by his Russianborn father ’ s desire to serve the community that had allowed him to prosper , Bails , in conjunction with his family , continued this work .
Using their philanthropic vehicle , the Sidney Myer Fund , they brought the Sidney Myer Music Bowl into existence in 1959 . A landmark architectural work and music venue , it was a gift to the people of Victoria .
Bails preferred to be called a social or community investor rather than a philanthropist and it was an area in which he was very active . From 1958 to 2001 , he served as a trustee of the Sidney Myer Fund .
With his brother , Ken , Bails also established The Myer Foundation in 1959 . Bails served as vice chair and chair of The Myer Foundation between 1959 and 1995 . He also served on the advisory board of the Salvation Army from 1987 until 1991 .
With Sarah he shared a passion for rural pursuits , breeding Santa Gertrudis cattle and quarter horses on their properties at Grafton , NSW and Merricks North , Victoria . They established the first vineyard on the Mornington Peninsula at Elgee Park in 1972 , the awardwinning Elgee Park Wines .
Bails is survived by wife Sarah , children Sidney , Rupert and Samantha , 12 grandchildren and three great grandchildren . Rod Myer is the author of In Full Stride : The Life and Times of Baillieu ( Bails ) Myer .
AQHA MARCH / APRIL ISSUE 2022