Billionaire Andrew Forrest mourns his father

afr.com:

Iron ore billionaire Andrew Forrest is mourning his father, Don Forrest, who died aged 95 on the family cattle station in Western Australia.

Mr Forrest led a horseback guard of honour made up of family members and Minderoo station hands who escorted an ambulance carrying his father from the property on Sunday.

In a death notice published on Monday, the family said Don “passed away peacefully in his sleep, knowing he was with people and places he loved”.

“We all wish him well in his onward journey. He goes with the love, deep affection and enduring memories of all those whose lives his 95-year history has embraced. His legacy will be cherished by all who knew him,” they said.

Andrew Forrest referred to his father’s frail condition on August 27 as he celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Fortescue Metals Group with a party at the Solomon mining hub. On the same night, the FMG founder touched on his separation from wife Nicola after 31 years of marriage.

Neither Don nor Andrew’s mother Judy were able to attend the celebrations.

Don leaves behind Judy, his second wife Marie, his three children, David, Jane and Andrew, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Andrew spent his childhood on Minderoo in between his boarding school in Perth. One of his proudest moments was reclaiming the 230,000-hectare property in 2009, a little over a decade after his father had been forced to sell it off in tough economic times. The station was founded by David Forrest in the 1870s.

The Forrest family said it would hold a celebration of Don’s life at Minderoo this Sunday.