McLellan's glorious ride from Jumble Plains to eternity

His corporate life is nothing short of meteoric. His career involved the development of a new city in Egypt, serving as the president and CEO of major international corporations, and transacting business in more than twenty countries. A proven leader, since returning to Australia, Tony was elected chairman of various listed public mining companies and was the founder and chairman of Chrysos Corporation Limited, in partnership with the CSIRO. With a passion for the poor, Tony has served as a director of several not-for-profit organisations, both overseas and in Australia. He was, when I first met him the chairman, and now chairman emeritus, of the Australian Christian Lobby.

Married for 60 years, Tony and Rae are the proud parents of three children and grandparents of eight and my wife Lynne and I have had a many memorable lunches during which time it became apparent that Rae was and is the so-called ‘good woman’ behind every man. Bursting with Christian warmth, Tony’s book outlines how they met in the dining room of the Tottenham Hotel in 1959. Born in Peak Hill north of Parkes in central NSW, Rae and Tony began their relationship soon after Rae complimented Tony on his piano playing which he often did after dinner.

But life is challenging and a crisis in his business and family life at the age of 47 taught him the deeper meaning of achievement. The path to a truly successful life begins when you focus on serving others. During his high-flying career, he turned from sorrow to God and committed his life to serving rather than being served.

Senator the Hon Eric Abetz says that reading A Glorious Ride will be one of the best investments of time you will ever make by soaking up the lived experience and learned wisdom in a book he wished was around 40 years ago.

Likewise, John Anderson, Former Deputy Prime Minister of Australia says that “Tony McLellan’s fascinating and inspirational story is as exceptional as the man himself. From the Australian bush to some of the great and palatial places in the world, and from sorrow to faith, this is a story not to miss.”

For me, I am proud to admit that I cried, laughed, and shared in his successes I could never have achieved. More importantly, Tony’s faith shines throughout the book. In his final Chapter entitled ‘Advice to the Younger Me’ Tony leaves us with some very useful and heartfelt advice which every reader will need to discover and digest personally.

Let’s not shy away from the fact that sharing your faith in the ‘public square’ has its challenges but highly rewarding. For me there are three takeaways from Tony’s book.

First, we must accept God’s discipline and yield to his correction. “God disciplines us for our own good,” said the writer of the letter to the Hebrews. Secondly, we must set our goal. We should never lose sight of that glorious passage: “let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith”(Hebrews 12:2), and finally, we must persevere, knowing that “when we have done the will of God, we will receive what he has promised” (Hebrews 10:36).

Tony, your book is a Godsend as it has changed my Christian life for the better. “Well done good and faithful servant”. Soli Deo Gloria.