Andrew Forrest, Gemma Ward added to 2009 Who’s Who

Posted by mija on Dec 11, 2008 in News | 0 comments

WA iron-ore billionaire Andrew Forrest and supermodel Gemma Ward are two of the 332 new inclusions in the 2009 edition of Who’s Who in Australia.
Mr Forrest and Miss Ward are joined by supermodel Miranda Kerr, television personality Chris Lilley, world surfing champion Stephanie Gilmour, Socceroo coach Pim Verbeek and captain Lucas Neil and new Wallabies coach Robbie Deans.
See a photo gallery of Perth’s Gemma Ward here
In May, Mr Forrest topped BRW magazine’s Rich 200 list, with a record estimated fortune of $9.41 billion, but his wealth has been considerably reduced as a result of the big drop in the stock market over the past year.
Gemma Ward is best known as the face of alien chic and for being romantically linked to the late actor Heath Ledger.
Neither achievement, though, is included in her small biography.
Who’s Who in Australia contains more than 13,000 biographies.
The 2009 edition, which runs to 2282 pages and 13,378 small biographies, includes 332 newcomers.
Who’s Who publisher Helen Christon says they are picked for their significant contributions to Australian life.
Significance, however, is in the eye of the beholder.
Supermodel Miranda Kerr’s listed achievements include being our first Victoria’s Secret angel.
The leather-bound directory to the rich, powerful and famous was first published in 1906. Entrance is priceless, in as much as you can’t buy your way in, but friends in high places never hurt.
Therese Rein, who missed last year’s Who’s Who despite a $170 million business empire, makes an overdue debut.
Unlike their partners, MPs are almost an automatic inclusion.
Law and government hogs one-quarter of the book, while academics fill another 24 per cent. There are 109 new entries from government, parliament and diplomacy.
Unions take up just one per cent of the entries.
source: news.com.au