Broncos chairman Karl Morris has dug deep to help the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital

A prominent Brisbane bizoid has written a big cheque to help kick off the RBWH Foundation’s inaugural “Giving Day,’’ which gets under way Friday with a $500,000 target.

Broncos chairman Karl Morris has dug deep to help the charity arm of the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital.

He’s written a big cheque to help kick off the RBWH Foundation’s inaugural “Giving Day,’’ which gets under way Friday with a $500,000 target to bankroll new equipment, training and medical research.

Morris, a stockbroker whose extensive multi-tasking includes the chairmanships of Ord Minnett and QSuper, will join more than 100 volunteers busily ringing around for donations from a call centre set up at the hospital.

Brisbane Broncos Chairman Karl Morris

It’s a place he knows well.

At the young age of 23 he fell down a cliff and broke his leg, a drama which quickly escalated in severity and that saw him spend three days in the intensive care ward. He also met a nurse there who would later become his wife of 27 years and mum to his five kids.

“To some extent they saved my life,’’ Morris told us yesterday. “They do lots of wonderful things there.’’

Joining him to work the phones will be the likes of NRLW Captain Ali Brigginshaw, current Broncos ambassador Justin Hodges, Shaw and Partners adviser James O’Kane and Aurizon foot soldiers. Fourteen teams of hospital staff will also compete for fundraising bragging rights.

JOINING FORCES

Two Brisbane-based resources industry players plan to join forces to create what they claim will be one of the country’s biggest drilling services providers.

Mitchell Services announced yesterday that it had inked a conditional deal to acquire rival Deepcore Drilling for $15 million in cash and 250 million shares. That works out to an equity acquisition price of $32 million and an enterprise value of $44 million.

Mitchell, which just celebrated 50 years in business and reported a $17.3 million net profit, will expand its board to include current Deepcore CEO Scott Tumbridge. He will own a 7.2 per cent stake in the newly-fused business.

Managing Director and CEO of Senex Energy Limited, Ian Davies

Speaking of the resources game, a Queenslander has just snared one of the top spots in a peak industry lobby group. It emerged yesterday that Brisbane-based Ian Davies, boss of Senex Energy, will take on the job of vice-chairman of the Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association.

DOING THEIR BIT

Brisbane ride-sharing patrons can now book a Tesla if they’re keen to do their bit for the environment.

Niche player Get Picked Up launched what it calls the industry’s first eco-friendly option in Brisbane this week and plans to roll it out in Sydney and Melbourne next week.

The company, started by entrepreneur Daniel Rombouts, is now operating in 50 cities and towns across the country.

Tesla's Model Y

Against a backdrop of intensifying competition between major operators Uber, Ola and Didi, Rombout says his Australian-owned venture has grown nearly 700 per cent over the past four years and now turns over about $6.5 million annually.

As a point of difference, GPU touts its policy of no peak hour charges, a sweetener that might appeal to the estimated 90,000 Australians who now choose to ride with Uber competitors.

BOTTOMS UP

Queensland hospitality player James Grugeon has one more reason to hoist a glass and propose a toast.

The founder of the very socially responsible Good Beer Co. has just sealed a deal with Adnams, one of the UK’s oldest and most sustainable breweries.

Under the partnership, the two outfits will create and brew a range of products next year for the UK market, including Good Beer’s award-winning Great Barrier Beer.

Founder of the Good Beer Co James Grugeon

Ten per cent of all revenue from the brew is donated to the Australian Marine Conservation Society.

Given Brexit woes, City Beat suspects that UK punters will want to forget their troubles with some extra-strong ales.

To celebrate the new alliance, the British High Commissioner in Canberra, Vicki Treadell, will host a reception early next month featuring beers from both companies.