ERROL PARKER | Editor-at-large | Contact
Tech entrepreneur Mike Cannon-Brookes was approached last night in a local bar by a man who looks similar to him and asked if he was Mike Cannon-Brookes.
Mr Cannon-Brookes is visiting our cosmopolitan desert community this week for Betootacone Valley’s annual Simpson Desert Tech Fête. Currently in its sixth year, the incubator-thon attracts some of the biggest names in the tech world.
As the formalities of the opening ceremony drew to a close last night, the Fête delegates and other Fêtegoers headed into town from the Remienko Convention Centre to keep the party going.
It was at the Gelded Seahorse Nightspot in the Old City where Tony Ross found himself standing at the end of the bar, looking over at a tall man wearing a hat inside.
Tony was not attending the Fête and told The Advocate that he didn’t even know it was on. He joined our reporter for lunch today at French Quarter Thai.
“I’m a real estate agent,” he said.
“If it’s not a Macbook, I don’t know how to even turn it on.”
Speaking to our reporter, Tony said he turned to a friend and asked him if that was Mike Cannon-Brookes. His friend brought up a few pictures on his phone and they both agreed it might actually be him.
“I’d had a couple,” said Tony.
“The fellas and I look at him then looked at each other and weren’t sure. So they told me to go over and ask,”
“Now, in normal circumstances, I would’ve just let the man be. You know, he probably doesn’t want some dribbler to come up and ask him if he was who he is – then proceed to ask him to buy a round of cold beers for me and my mates. But as I said, I had a few.”
Tony explained that he snaked his way through the packed nightclub toward Mr Cannon-Brookes. Once next to him, he let out a deep breath and tapped Mike on the shoulder.
He stood up from his seat and acted the scene out.
“Hey mate, are you Mike Cannon-Brookes?” he recalled, tapping the air in front of him.
Mr Cannon-Brookes turned around.
“Yeah,” said Mike.
“Hey mate, I’m Tony. Hey, how about you buy me and my mates a round of beers?” said Tony.
“How about you fuck off, mate?” said Mike.
Tony sat back down in his seat and shrugged.
“I knew it was him. He didn’t have to tell me to fuck off, but.”
As Tony continued on, his chicken Pad Thai arrived and the conversation came to an end.
More to come.
