Sir Eion Edgar has often told the story of his first pay packet, because it clearly points the way to the successful business career that followed.
The building company’s owner, John Vickers, lived in Karitane, where the Edgars had a holiday house, so the young Eion got a lift to the
work site each day with the boss.
Before "child labour" springs to readers’ minds, Sir Eion points out he was the "gofer".
"I made cups of tea, I’d run around — when they needed more nails or whatever it was, I’d go get them."
When the two weeks were over, he was handed the "princely sum" of eleven pounds and ten shillings.
He remembers feeling very pleased getting the money, because he had enjoyed the work.
"The builders were very kind to me, and Mr Vickers was a lovely man and looked after me."
He then gave the money to his father, a public accountant and sharebroker, who invested it in 23 shares in CRA (Conzinc Riotinto of Australia), a large Australian public company of the time.
Asked how he had developed an investment mentality at such a young age, he said it came from his father.
"In the post most days there was an annual report or a company report, so I followed the sharemarket — probably looked at the pictures, to be honest — for several years.
"I’d been interested in the stockmarket for at least two years before that."
He held on to the shares until November 1970, when he sold them for $7000.
He spent the money on tickets for a round-the-world trip with his wife, Jan, departing a week after they were married.
