Kevin Parry

Kevin J. Parry is a businessman from Western Australia most noted for his backing of the Taskforce '87 syndicate which unsuccessfully defended the 1987 America's Cup in Fremantle, Western Australia. [ [http://www.americascup.com/en/acmag/features/roles_actors/index.php?idIndex=0&idContent=13609 "Fremantle - Wednesday, February 4th, 1987, the revenge of the United States"] ] The defence cost over $20 million and built and raced three 12-Metre Class boats, "Kookaburra I", "Kookaburra II" and "Kookaburra III". [cite book|title=The America's Cup 1851-987 : Sailing For Supremacy|author=Gary Lester and Richard Sleeman|publisher=Lester-Townsend Publishing Pty Ltd, Sydney|year=1986|isbn=0949853089]

Parry headed the diversified Parry Corporation group (previously Parry's Esplanade Limited) which in turn ran the well-known Perth-based Parry's Department Stores which had been inherited from his father.cite web|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DE3D6153AF936A35752C0A961948260|title= Fighting For A Lead Position|work=New York Times|author=Nicholas D. Kristof|date=January 5, 1987|accessdate=2008-02-28] In 1986, Parry Corporation was ranked 96 in the top 100 Australian Non-Financial firms list. [cite web|url=http://www.cambridge.edu.au/downloads/Appendix_C.pdf|title=Top 100 non-financial companies ranked by assets, 1910–1997|work=Cambridge University Press|accessdate=2008-02-29] The West Perth Scitech centre was initially supported by Parry, but due to later financial difficulties his involvement decreased.cite web|url=http://www.gdc.asn.au/aboutus_overview_jl.php|title=The Western Australian Science Discovery Centrework=Gravity Discovery Centre|accessdate=2008-02-29]

In his younger years, he had been a noted Australian baseball player. [ [http://books.google.com/books?id=rIXGQra02mAC&pg=PA83&lpg=PA83&dq=kevin+parry+baseball&source=web&ots=5klQjLBSu2&sig=TQuiHT3S-WTOhjyB-GniFopEyro#PPP1,M1 "A History of Australian Baseball: Time and Game"] ] He later established the Perth Heat baseball team as well as funding the first purpose built baseball stadium in Perth, Parry Field at Belmont. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DE3DA133FF935A35751C0A961948260 "Baseball Fever on the Rise in Australia"] ]

Parry Corporation suffered considerable financial difficulties after the 1987 Stock Market Crash and in late 1987, Kevin Parry lost control of the company.

Parry currently heads a small Perth-based homeopathic company Astop Biohealth with his son Cameron. [ [http://www.wabusinessnews.com.au/login_google.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wabusinessnews.com.au%2Fen-story.php%3F%2F1%2F32362%2FBird-flu-inhibitor-hope-for-Kevin-Parry-s-Astop-Biohealth "Bird flu inhibitor hope for Kevin Parry's Astop Biohealth"] ]

References

External links

* [http://astop.onlinepublicity.net/ Astop Biohealth]