House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2024-06-27 Daily Xml

Contents

Teakle, Mr P.

Mr TELFER (Flinders) (17:25): I want to speak today about an individual in our community who has sadly passed and that is Mr Peter Teakle, a man who is well known around the state of South Australia, a man who, unfortunately, passed away unexpectedly in his sleep aged 72 in hospital last Friday, a week ago, on the 14th, with his son, Ben, by his side.

Peter is somewhat of a Port Lincoln icon. He moved to the region 20 years ago. He was an entrepreneur, a philanthropist and he was an amazing character of South Australia. Those people who had the opportunity to know him would have heard some of the stories that he was always happy to tell about life all around the globe. His business interests and his generous contributions to local sports groups and other community groups really is unmatched in Port Lincoln.

The way that he made himself a part of the community and generously gave of his fortune is something that is truly to be admired. He made his money printing wine labels through his family's Adelaide business, Collotype Labels. He transformed it into a global, multimillion-dollar company since taking over from his father in 1986. It became a company with 34 manufacturing plants in 10 different countries, employing thousands of people. It is through the wealth he gained through those businesses that he was able to be as generous as he was.

He really stepped into the Port Lincoln community and the story goes that back in the eighties, as he sailed into Port Lincoln, he thought, 'Well, maybe this is a great place to retire when the time comes.' He bought an existing winery up on the hill and anyone who goes to Port Lincoln should go up to the Line & Label Restaurant, the cellar door and the vineyard, which was developed from a three-hectare vineyard, and the total estate is now over 30 hectares.

The money invested by him was not to look for an immediate return but really as an investment into making Port Lincoln a destination for visitors. That destination restaurant developed up on the hill at Line & Label is unique. He designed and built the restaurant and the cellar door using local builders, subcontractors, businesses and trades. It is an amazing multimillion-dollar facility up on the hill that truly is unique, especially for Eyre Peninsula.

To put that sort of money into developing what is, as I said, a high-class destination is something that is truly amazing. It is not just the business interest but, as I said at the start, his generous spirit and truly giving of himself and his wealth through the years is incredible. The millions of dollars he has donated to various community initiatives ranges from local charities to the elaborate bronze bugler memorial, which is a life-size bronze statue of World War I bugler Leonard Hall. He donated that to the Port Lincoln RSL on Anzac Day 2016. It stands in Eyre Park in Port Lincoln as recognition of the amazing life of Mr Hall and also as a testament to the generosity of Peter Teakle. He is someone who has given generously to the Royal Flying Doctor Service and to the Children's Charity via The Runaway Brides Variety Bash. He donated a new kitchen to the RSL. He donated two yachts to the Port Lincoln Yacht Club as part of a mentor sailing program, Born to Mentor and Lincoln Mentor.

The list goes on: the Port Lincoln Yacht Club, the Port Lincoln Go Kart Club, the football Teakle Cup, which is when Norwood come over and play in Port Lincoln. Of course, a real passion of his was boating and sailing. We have the Teakle Classic Lincoln Week Regatta and the Peter Teakle Port Lincoln Blue Water Classic.

He had a passion for cars, and we all knew when he drove through with his Ferrari. He developed and sponsored the Teakle Raceway and Teakle Auto Sprint. Sports fishing was a passion of his. An aviation scholarship was set up in his name. He was an amazing man who gave so much, and with his passing there really is a hole left in the community. My thoughts and condolences are with all of Peter's family, the community and all those who loved him.