Geoffrey Edelsten facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Geoffrey Edelsten
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| Born |
Geoffrey Walter Edelsten
2 May 1943 Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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| Died | 11 June 2021 (aged 78) Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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| Education |
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| Alma mater | University of Melbourne |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1966–2021 |
| Net worth |  $63 million AUD (2012) |
| Spouse(s) |
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| Children | 1 |
Geoffrey Walter Edelsten (born May 2, 1943 – died June 11, 2021) was an Australian businessman. He was known for starting Allied Medical Group. He also made headlines for his unique medical clinics and his exciting lifestyle.
Geoffrey Edelsten was a doctor who opened special clinics in the 1980s. These clinics were open 24 hours a day. They had fancy decorations like chandeliers and grand pianos. His clinics were some of the first modern corporate medical centers. He also owned big houses, helicopters, and many luxury cars.
Later, his medical license was suspended in New South Wales and Victoria. In 2005, he helped create Allied Medical Group. This company ran many medical centers. Edelsten was also the first private owner of a major Australian football team, the Sydney Swans.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Geoffrey Edelsten was born in Carlton, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia. This happened on May 2, 1943. His family had moved to Australia from Eastern Europe. His parents, Hymie and Esther, owned a clothing store chain.
He went to Princes Hill Public School. In 1960, he finished high school at Mount Scopus Memorial College. This was Australia's first Jewish school for both boys and girls. He then studied at the University of Melbourne. He graduated in 1966 with a degree to become a doctor.
Music Business Adventures
In the 1960s, Geoffrey Edelsten owned a record company in Melbourne. It was called Hit Productions. His company worked with other music publishers. During this time, his family also owned a chain of record stores called Edels.
In 1966, he helped write two songs for a group called the Last Straws. These songs were released on his own record label, Scope. In 1967, Hit Productions signed the group Cam-Pact. Their first song became popular in Melbourne. Later, in 1968, Edelsten also helped produce a song for a studio group called Pastoral Symphony.
Starting His Medical Career
After finishing his medical degree in 1966, Edelsten worked at the Royal Melbourne Hospital. Then he became a general doctor. He worked in faraway places in New South Wales and Queensland. These places included Wauchope and Walgett. He even bought his first private clinic in Walgett.
He learned to fly a plane to reach patients in remote areas. Sometimes, he treated people for free if they could not pay. In 1969, he opened a new medical clinic in Coogee, Sydney. This practice quickly grew and expanded to Liverpool.
In 1971, Edelsten and a friend started Preventicare. This company offered quick and cheap medical tests. It used new equipment from the United States. The company had some money problems at first. But by 1975, under a new name, it was making a lot of money. During this time, Edelsten and his team opened eight clinics in Sydney. They also helped deliver babies at three hospitals.
In 1984, the Australian government started Medicare. This program helped people pay for medical care. After this, Edelsten began opening his famous 24-hour medical centers. These clinics were very modern and unique. They had fancy decorations like chandeliers and white grand pianos. They even had examination tables covered in mink fur!
His clinics were the first in Australia to use bulk-billing. This meant patients did not have to pay anything directly. Within four months, his first clinic saw 2,000 patients every week. Eventually, Edelsten owned thirteen medical centers. About 20,000 patients visited his 200 doctors each week.
Owning the Sydney Swans
On July 31, 1985, Geoffrey Edelsten made history. He became the first private owner of a major Australian football team. This team was the Sydney Swans.
In July 1986, he tried to buy a rugby league team, the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. But his offer was not accepted. Edelsten was also a long-time supporter of the Carlton Football Club. In 2013, the club made him a life member.
Medical License and Business Ventures
In 1988, New South Wales suspended Edelsten from its medical register. This was because he used staff who were not qualified for laser surgery. Later, his medical license was also suspended in Victoria.
In 2001, Edelsten started a company called "Gene E." This company offered paternity tests by mail. People could call to get a testing kit. After sending it back, they would receive the results by mail.
Edelsten tried to get his medical license back in New South Wales. In 2003, he told the NSW Medical Tribunal he was sorry for his past actions. In 2004, the tribunal said he could not apply again for four years.
Later Career and Challenges
In 2005, Edelsten and a business partner started Allied Medical Group. This company grew to employ about 250 doctors. It ran seventeen "Superclinics" in Victoria, three in Queensland, and one in South Australia. These clinics offered long opening hours. They also used bulk-billing for most services. This meant patients did not have to pay directly.
In 2011, Allied Medical Group was sold to another company for a large sum of money. In January 2014, Edelsten faced some financial challenges in the United States. His lawyers said this was a way to manage his investments better. In 2015, Edelsten appeared on the TV show The Celebrity Apprentice Australia.
Personal Life and Public Attention
Geoffrey Edelsten met and married his first wife, Leanne Nesbitt, in the early 1980s. She was a model. During this time, his exciting lifestyle got a lot of media attention. He owned big houses, a football team, and many luxury cars. He was often linked to a pink helicopter, though he said it was blue and white. They divorced after three years.
In January 2009, Edelsten announced he would marry Brynne Gordon. She was a fitness instructor from California. They got married on November 29, 2009, in Melbourne. Their wedding was very grand and reportedly cost a lot of money. It included a helicopter, a luxury car, and 550 guests. There were also circus performers and famous entertainers. Guests even received a special DVD about the couple.
In June 2012, thieves stole luxury cars belonging to Edelsten. These cars were worth more than $1.4 million. One of them was a very rare Lamborghini. In January 2014, it was announced that his marriage to Brynne was over. In July 2014, Edelsten announced he planned to marry Gabi Grecko. They were married on June 11, 2015.
Helping Others
For his 2009 wedding, Edelsten asked guests not to give presents. Instead, he asked them to donate to the Great Expectations Foundation. He started this non-profit group in 2008. It claimed to support charities like beyondblue and the Royal Children's Hospital. However, some charities later said they had not received money from his foundation. Some were not even aware their names were being used for fundraising.
Death
Geoffrey Edelsten passed away at his apartment in Melbourne on June 11, 2021. He was 78 years old.
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