By EMILY IANNELLO
IT’S A big weekend for Geelong businessman Mark Ward.
The Amazing Mill Markets operator is showcasing a new company and could win a Queensland holiday in the Independent’s Tip-Stars competition.
Mr Ward bought Decor Impact after buying a three-metre tall gorilla figurine from the store’s previous owner a month ago.
“I loved the gorilla that much that I bought the whole business,” he laughed.
Mr Ward extended the animal angle to Decor Impacts’ new transport vehicles, which he covered in eye-catching zebra stripes.
Each of his three Amazing Mill Markets would feature a showroom full of Decor Impact’s life-sized animals, plants and props for special events, he said.
“We’ve got several containers arriving in the near future – they’re full of products which have never been seen before in Australia.”
Mr Ward is battling it out in Tip-Stars with Harvey Norman’s Chris Goodhand.
Mr Ward held the lead for much of the season until Mr Goodhand overtook him last month to lead by a point. Mr Ward fought back last week to tie with Mr Goodhand on 142 points each.
The pair have tipped different outcomes in three matches this weekend, the final tipping round of the season. Mr Ward has tipped Adelaide, Richmond and Greater Western Sydney to win, while Mr Goodhand went for Geelong, North Melbourne and Melbourne in the corresponding matches.
The results will determine the winner unless each tipper gets only one right and the third match is a draw, in which case Mr Ward wins on a countback of the most nine-point weeks.
“It’s a nervous wait – Chris and I have been head-to-head all year,” he said.
“Being the final round, it’s a difficult one – it really depends on how serious the teams are going to be during the final round.
“There’s nothing like a good challenge.”
