Star Entertainment boss’s splurge boosts Queen’s Wharf stake

THE man overseeing Brisbane’s epic $3 billion Queen’s Wharf project has just got a whole lot more skin in the game.

THE man overseeing Brisbane’s epic $3 billion Queen’s Wharf project has just got a whole lot more skin in the game.

The Star Entertainment Group CEO Matt Bekier. Picture: Jerad Williams

Star Entertainment Group boss Matt Bekier splashed out nearly $550,000 this week to bulk up his shareholding in the gambling giant.

The splurge, part of Bekier’s short-term performance plan, boosted his existing stake by almost 15 per cent.

His nest egg was valued at about $4.4 million at the close of trade yesterday and that’s on top of about 1.7 million performance rights yet to be crystallised.

Bekier’s buying spree follows Star’s release of rather disappointing results last month, which saw a 44 per cent plunge in full-year profit to $148 million.

But Bekier shrugged off the numbers, pointing to a lift in revenue and saying the company was well-positioned for future growth.

GETTING AIRBORNE

Speaking of Star, a bunch of Bekier’s troops will be getting airborne today in the Brisbane CBD.

They are among a swag of corporate types who will be bouncing on three big trampolines set up in Reddacliff Place.

It’s all part of a fundraising competition to benefit Cystic Fibrosis Queensland, which promotes trampolining as an ideal exercise for those with the incurable chronic disease, which dramatically cuts life expectancy.

In addition to Star, teams from McCullough Robertson, Retire Australia, BBS Communications and APN Outdoor will be competing to see who can rack up 10,000 bounces in an hour.

Winners get only the glory and the bragging rights, while Cystic Fibrosis will put a dent in its goal of raising $300,000 this year.

Notably, among the Retire squad, is Adam Eyles, who battles the disease but still managed to compete recently on Channel 9’s hit show Australian Ninja Warrior.

Eyles was only expected to live to 10 but he’s now 42.

PILGRIMAGE

Keith DeLacy has spent a bit of time lately getting fit on Brisbane’s walking trails.

The reason? The former Queensland treasurer and company director jets out on Friday bound for Paris, where he’s aiming to knock off a decent chunk of the Camino Way, the ancient pilgrimage route.

Keith DeLacy is about to take on the Camino Way.

DeLacy hopes to cover 230km in 10 days. Not bad for a bloke who turned 78 last month.

He told City Beat yesterday that he had been “dragooned’’ in to the trip by longtime associate and fellow director around town Martin Kriewaldt, who has already traversed the route multiple times.

Kriewaldt reached out to his mate after DeLacy’s wife of 55 years, Yvonne, passed away suddenly in April.

Sadly, that was just a few months after the couple had relocated from Cairns to a luxurious apartment in the Brisbane CBD.

The trip, which showcases a rich tapestry of history, culture, food and wine, is sure to be a shot of tonic for the soul.

After DeLacy packs up his trekking boots and heads home, Kriewaldt, 68, intends to keep going.

He’s planning to traverse about 800km in roughly 30 days of walking, with a few rest stops along the way.

RAISING THE BAR

It was fist pumps all around for Brisbane hospitality identity Andrew Baturo and his crew at The Gresham this week.

The heritage-listed CBD watering hole, which already has a cabinet full of awards, was named Bar of the Year in Queensland at a glittering industry gala in Sydney on Tuesday night.

The Australian Bar Awards also bestowed gongs on Brisbane’s Maker venue as Cocktail Bar of the Year, while Savile Row in Fortitude Valley took home the prize for Best Bartender’s Bar.