fire #3 Mar-May 2017

Feature
ADMIRAL MIKE STEWART, LJ HOOKER TOOWOOMBA
“My mother was the first female
auctioneer in Queensland. She
operated in what was, back then,
a boys’ club that lined Margaret
Street in Toowoomba, complete
with beer bellies, cigarettes and men
leaning on parking metres. It was a
different world back then in country
Queensland. Mum took me under her
wing and showed me the business
basics from the ground up. She taught
me the principles of negotiating,
what drove people, as well as all the
technical aspects. There were very
few female real estate principles back
then, and Mum was always clever,
intelligent and tenacious – a true
example of old school.
“In 1989, my wife and I took over
the business from my mum. My
wife Julie, who has a background in
commercial retail, taught me the next
steps to my success. Julie has robust
skills that she is still imprinting on me
to this day. My
wife showed
me how to be
an excellent
negotiator, and
she raised our
two children
when I had to
work overseas
– she is just such a strong support
in my life. Julie has taught me to be
compassionate, organised and patient,
which she may very well still be
teaching me by the time I turn 90!”
“MY WIFE SHOWED ME HOW TO BE
COMPASSIONATE, WHILE MY MUM
TAUGHT ME TO ALWAYS STRIVE FOR
EXCELLENCE. THE TWO HALVES MADE
ME WHAT I AM TODAY.”
Admiral Mike Stewart and his wife, Julie
10 FIRE MAGAZINE // MAR – MAY 2017