Jack Bendat
| Jack Bendat | |
|---|---|
| Born |
6 May 1925 United States |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Spouse(s) | Eleanor Bendat |
Jack Bendat (born 6 May 1925) is an American-born Australian businessman and owner of the Perth Wildcats basketball team. He was previously involved in construction and media businesses with longtime partner Kerry Stokes, but is now involved in philanthropic and sporting interests.
Biography
Early life
Jack Bendat was born in the United States and migrated with his family from California to Perth in 1966.[1]
Career
Bendat, along with partners Kerry Stokes and Kevin Merifield, were involved in the development of shopping centres in Perth and regional Western Australia. Bendat appeared at #70 on BRW's 2014 Rich List.[2]
Bendat's business accomplishments include building Bunbury Plaza, one of the first country shopping centres in Western Australia, and establishing country media service GWN (now GWN7). He went on to work on development of 11 shopping centres around Western Australia.[3]
Personal life
Bendat is married and has two children.
Philanthropy
One of Bendat's major contributions has been the Bendat Family Comprehensive Cancer Centre at the St John of God Subiaco Hospital. Bendat's contribution to the community was recognised as WA Citizen of the Year in 2002.[4] Bendat was also made a member of the Order of Australia in 2009.[5]
Sporting Interests
Bendat bought the Perth Wildcats basketball club in 2007.[6] In his time as owner, the club has won three NBL championships, 2009–10, 2013–14 and 2015-16, and expanded significantly, drawing larger crowds to their new home court at Perth Arena. In April 2015, Bendat purchased the license for the Perth WNBL team in the West Coast Waves and renamed them the Perth Lynx, and the following month, on his 90th Birthday, the WA Basketball Centre was renamed the Bendat Basketball Centre in his honour.[7]
References
- ↑ Hutchison, Geoff (January 2012). Who are you? Jack Bendat. Interview with Geoff Hutchison. Mornings with Geoff Hutchison. 720 ABC Perth. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
- ↑ "BRW Rich 200 list 2014: 70. Jack Bendat". BRW. 27 June 2014. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
- ↑ "Dr Bendat focuses on giving back to WA". Perth Wildcats. 25 January 2012. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
- ↑ Butler, Steve (28 March 2013). "Bendat builds big red army". The West Australian. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
- ↑ Clarke, Tim; Sonti, Chalpat (8 June 2009). "48 WA residents honoured". WA Today. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
- ↑ "Wildcats: a slam dunk for Jack Bendat at 89". Australian Financial Review. 31 May 2014. Retrieved 3 June 2015.(subscription required)
- ↑ Robinson, Chris (6 May 2015). "Bendat Basketball Centre the new name for WA’s main facility, named after Jack Bendat". PerthNow. Retrieved 3 June 2015.