The Lighter Note

Fund run

Martin Alciaturi might have taken a different fork in the road a few months back by shifting from corporate advisory at Macquarie Bank to an in-house role at Aquila Resources, but that hasn’t stopped him trying to raise money.

As a result, former rivals and colleagues are still trying to chase him down – as The Note discovered on a popular website that appears to be something of a haunt of corporate advisers and their clients.

Take this online message The Note has spied to Mr Alciaturi from his former rival at Gresham, Justin Mannolini: “See you on the road ... I will be the one gasping for breath.”

It joins a few other notes from the likes of Doug Young at Euroz, Craig Carter from Macquarie and former Tap Oil boss Peter Stickland.

As you’d expect from investment bankers and their clients, all of their messages – or taunts – at the very least mention money, even if they have nothing else to say.

Of course all this competitive banter and talk of fund raising is for a good cause. Mr Alciaturi has entered the City to Surf scheduled for this weekend and is aiming to raise $2,000. At last count he’s $400 short ... small change in investment banking, surely.

Big bang theory

Ora Banda has a rich history, even by the high standards set in the Goldfields. Most recently, though, it has gained a little more notoriety than usual as the site of the slaying of a bikie gang member, the bombing of its famous pub and the killing of its hotel owner, former policeman Don Hancock.

It’s good to see the township moving on. The Amalgamated Prospectors and Leaseholders Association of WA plans to hold its state conference there this weekend.

But they can’t quite escape the bomb link. After Saturday’s AGM, and an anticipated drink or two, delegates can attend a session on metal detecting site selection.