The Committee of Management, staff and members of Glenelg Golf Club express our deepest and sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Graeme Bignell following his passing on Wednesday.
Graeme Bignell founded the Adtrans car dealership group, which traded under the Graham Cornes, Stillwell and Adrian Brien brands.
He was president of Glenelg Football Club from 1986-89 and was a significant benefactor.
Mr Bignell died on Wednesday surrounded by family.
“He was a great man,” said Graham Cornes, a friend for several decades through football and business.
“He came from humble origins but made his way up through sheer hard work and vision.”
Mr Bignell was born in Melbourne in 1938 and began his working life as a taxi driver before getting a job selling cars.
In 1971, he and his business partner, former racing driver Bib Stillwell, bought a Ford dealership. It was the foundation of what became the publicly listed Adtrans Group.
“For somebody that’s working class and comes from a poorer background, it’s almost like a fairytale,” Mr Bignell told The Advertiser in 2003.
He was 2006 Ernst & Young champion of entrepreneurship for SA.
He also served on the board of Thoroughbred Racing SA.
A keen golfer and member of Glenelg Golf Club, he organised annual charity golf days that attracted business high-flyers and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for various charities.
He is survived by his wife Di and a large extended family.
His funeral will be at Adelaide Oval on Tuesday at 11.30am.
He will be sadly missed.
RIP Graeme.
Information courtesy of The Advertiser
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