Gunns Limited

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Type	Public company
Traded as	ASX: GNS
Industry	Timber production
Founded	1875
Founder(s)	John and Thomas Gunn
Headquarters	Launceston, Tasmania, Australia
Key people	Chris Newman (Chairman)
Revenue	A$628 million (2011)[1]
Profit	A$355 million (2011)[2]
Employees	1,662 (2006)[2]
Divisions	Gunns Plantations Limited Gunns Pulp Tamar Ridge Wines Gunns Retail
Website	www.gunns.com.au

Gunns Limited (ASX: GNS) is a major forestry enterprise located in Tasmania, Australia. Founded in 1875 by brothers John and Thomas Gunn, it is one of Australia's oldest companies. It has over 900 square kilometres of plantations, mainly eucalyptus trees. It is Tasmania’s largest private land-owner. The company employs over 1200 people and has suffered a dramatic turnaround in revenue in recent years, going from a turnover in excess of A$600 million in 2006, to a loss of over $350 million in 2011.^[1] Gunns is the largest export woodchip operation in the Southern Hemisphere, and one of two chip export companies sourcing raw materials from Tasmanian forests.^[3] In November 2011, the Gunns Mitre 10 stores were re-branded as Beck's Home Timber and Hardware, owned by the Danks Brothers Hardware Group and Blue Mountains Hardware, both companies of which are connected to Woolworths Limited, and are no longer connected to Gunns or Mitre 10.

Operations[link]

This section requires expansion.

In September 2010 Gunns announced that it will end logging of old growth forests and move to plantation timber.^[4]

Tasmania[link]

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Western Australia[link]

Gunns operates three hardwood sawmills in Western Australia. Their nationwide product line of timber flooring includes the hardwood, Jarrah, found in the southwest of the state. The timber is reddish-brown when hewn and is, "renowned for its beauty, warmth and durability".^[5] Their environmental initiatives include achieving certification under International standard ISO 14001:2004.^[6] Gunns supplies local trade and retail markets from its distribution yard in Welshpool, near Perth.

Criticism[link]

Anti-pulpmill rally (April 2007)

The company has been the focus of criticism from environmentalists, primarily for its four woodchip mills which produce 4 million tonnes of chips for export annually. Green groups claim that native forests are harvested specifically for woodchipping, whereas Gunns claim that the majority of their chips come from residue from their sawmilling and veneer operations. Gunns' major customers are paper producers in Northern Asia, mainly Japan, including Mitsubishi, Nippon and Oji Paper. Gunns has also been criticized for its logging operations in the Styx Valley and for its use of 1080 poison [1] to kill wildlife including protected species (baiting and particularly aerial spraying of forest prior to clearfelling ^[3]).

In 1989, the chairman of Gunns, Edmund Rouse, unsuccessfully attempted to bribe a Labor member, Jim Cox, to cross the floor, which would have allowed the pro-logging Tasmanian government of premier Robin Gray and the Liberal Party to resume power. A Royal Commission followed and convicted Rouse.^[7] Robin Gray became director of Gunns Limited on 21 February 2000. He retired from the position in 2010.

Further allegations of corruption appeared when Paul Lennon, Premier of Tasmania, had his heritage home renovated by a Gunns-owned company at the height of Gunns' push for the Bell Bay Pulp Mill. Lennon refused to disclose how much he paid for the renovations.^[8]

Bell Bay Pulp Mill[link]

The proposed mill site taken from Kayena, Tasmania

The company is planning to build a $2 billion pulp mill in the Tamar Valley, near Launceston. The proposed mill will use the Kraft process, Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF) bleaching, and fed with plantation eucalypt forest timber. The project is supported by the State Government for the perceived economic and employment benefits which are said to include $6.7 billion in spending over 25 years and 2000 temporary jobs created during the construction phase,^[9] but opposed by environmental and social activist groups. Federal Environment Minister Malcolm Turnbull gave approval for the project on Wednesday 3 October 2007.^[10] This decision was however challenged by The Wilderness Society and later overturned on appeal due to alleged flaws discovered in the approval process.

Gunns 20[link]

In the 2005 Gunns Limited v Marr & Ors case,^[11] Gunns filed a writ in the Supreme Court of Victoria, against 20 individuals and organisations including Senator Bob Brown, for over A$7.8 million .^[12]

Some members of the "Gunns 20" at a protest rally, December 2004 (Bob Brown centre, Peg Putt right)

The original list of defendants were:

Gunns claims that the defendants have sullied its reputation and caused it to lose jobs and profits. The defendants claim that they are protecting the environment. The defendants have become collectively known as the "Gunns 20".^[13]

Opponents and critics of the case have suggested that the writ was filed with the intent to discourage public criticism of the company, in a similar vein to a Strategic lawsuit against public participation, commonly used in North America,^[14][15] and the English McLibel case of McDonald's Restaurants against environmental activists Helen Steel and David Morris over a pamphlet critical of the company.^[16] Gunns has maintained the position that they are merely trying to prevent parties enjoined to the writ from undertaking unlawful activities that disrupt their business. The statement of claim alleged incidents of assault against forestry workers and vandalism.^[17][18]

At a hearing before the Supreme Court of Victoria, an amended statement of claim lodged by the company and served on defendants on 1 July 2005 was dismissed.^[11] However, the judge in the case granted the company leave to lodge a third version of their statement of claim with the court no later than 15 August 2005.^[11]

The application continued before the court, before being brought to a close on 20 October 2006.^[12] In his ruling, The Honourable Justice Bongiorno, made an award of costs in favour of the respondents only as far as it covered those costs incurred with the striking out the third version of the statement of claim, and costs incurred associated with their application for costs.^[12]

In November 2006, Gunns dropped the case against Helen Gee, Peter Pullinger and Doctors for Forests. In December 2006, it abandoned the claim against Greens MPs Bob Brown and Peg Putt.^[19]. The other matters were all settled in favour of Gunns following the payment of more than $150,000 in damages or, in some cases, undertakings to the court not to protest at certain locations.

See also[link]

• Woodchipping in Australia

References [link]

Further reading[link]

• Lyons, Brendan (1998). All Gunns blazing: J. and T. Gunn and the development of Launceston, 1871-1997. Launceston: Foot and Playsted. ISBN 0958599068. 
• Woodchips, lawsuits and democracy : a discussion of issues relevant to Tasmania in 2005. Sandy Bay, Tasmania: Now We the People. 2005. 
• Greg Ogle (2005). Gunning for change : the need for public partication law reform. Hobart: Wilderness Society. 

External links [link]

• Gunns Limited
• Pulp Mill Project
• Gunns on SourceWatch
• Gunns Limited overview from The Wilderness Society.

Tim Gunn
Gunn in 2010, at the 81st Academy Awards
Born	Timothy M. Gunn (1953-07-29) July 29, 1953 (age 58) Washington, D.C., United States
Residence	New York City, New York, United States
Nationality	American
Education	BFA, Sculpture
Alma mater	Corcoran College of Art and Design
Occupation	Fashion consultant, television personality, chief creative officer at Liz Claiborne, Inc.
Known for	Fashion

Timothy M. "Tim" Gunn (born July 29, 1953) is an American fashion consultant and television personality. He was on the faculty of Parsons The New School for Design from 1982 to 2007 and was chair of fashion design at the school from August 2000 to March 2007, after which he joined Liz Claiborne as its chief creative officer. He is well-known as on-air mentor to designers on the reality television program Project Runway. Gunn's popularity on Project Runway led to his spin-off show, Bravo's Tim Gunn's Guide to Style, as well as his book A Guide to Quality, Taste and Style.

Early life[link]

Gunn was born and raised in Washington, D.C. His father, George William Gunn, was an FBI agent during the administration of FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover.^[1] Gunn was a champion swimmer throughout high school,^[1] and later attended the Corcoran College of Art and Design, receiving a BFA in sculpture.^[2]

According to a video Gunn created for the It Gets Better project, he attempted to commit suicide at the age of 17 by swallowing over 100 pills.^[3]

Career[link]

Gunn started working at Parsons in 1982 and served as associate dean from 1989–2000, then became chair in August 2000. He was credited with "retooling and invigorating the curriculum for the 21st century."^[4]

Gunn began appearing on Project Runway during its first season in 2004, and is known for his catchphrase "Make it work." Tim Gunn's Guide to Style, a reality show in which Gunn gives advice to the fashion-challenged, debuted in September 2007 on the Bravo television network.

Gunn also played a version of himself as a reporter for the fictional Fashion TV in two episodes of ABC's Ugly Betty in February 2007^[5] and later guest starred on Drop Dead Diva in August 2009 as himself.

Gunn left Parsons in 2007 and joined Liz Claiborne as the company's chief creative officer in March of that year.^[6]

In April 2007, Abrams Image Publishers released Gunn's book A Guide to Quality, Taste and Style, co-written with Kate Moloney, cover photo by Markus Klinko & Indrani. While on tour in Palm Springs, California, the nearby city of Palm Desert honored him with an official resolution declaring April 27, 2007 (the day of his visit) "Timothy M. Gunn Day". He was also presented with a certificate by the city of Palm Springs and a plaque by the nearby city of Rancho Mirage in recognition of his career achievements.^[7] While promoting the book in the San Francisco Bay Area in May 2007, Gunn joined the judging panel of Project FiveFour 07, to judge gowns designed by 12 students from San Francisco's Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising. The competition benefited The Princess Project, a Bay Area charity that gives free prom dresses to high school students who can't afford to buy them on their own.^[8] In July 2007, Gunn was interviewed by R. Christian Anderson for Palm Springs Life Magazine. The article entitled "Style Tips for Summer", featured Gunn's sound advice to women who wish to remain fashionable, even during intense desert heat.^[9]

In May 2009, Gunn served as commencement speaker at the Corcoran College of Art and Design, and received an honorary doctorate from the institution.^[10]

He makes sporadic appearances on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson's "Dear Aquaman" segments, helping or standing in for Aquaman (Ferguson), answering letters and dispensing advice.^[11]

He guest starred as Barney's personal tailor on the 100th episode of How I Met Your Mother.^[12]

Gunn is guest-starring as himself on the 6th episode of CW's fourth season of Gossip Girl, "Easy J".^[13]

In other media[link]

In August 2007, "Tim Gunn's Podcast (a reality chamber opera)" by Jeffrey Lependorf premiered at the Cornelia Street Cafe in New York City.^[14] It received its first run one year later at New York International Fringe Festival.

Gunn appeared in a backup story in the first issue of Models Inc., a fashion-themed comic book miniseries published by Marvel Comics that debuted in September 2009 to coincide with New York City's style showcase. Gunn appeared on a variant cover of the issue illustrated by Phil Jimenez. In the series, which is written by Project Runway fan Mark Sumerak and illustrated by Jimenez, Gunn dons the Iron Man armor to foil an attack against the New York Fashion Museum.^[15]

Gunn appeared in the opening skit on the 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards to style Jimmy Fallon to look like Bruce Springsteen, from his Born in the USA album.

Personal life[link]

Tori Spelling and Gunn co-presenting at an event in November 2007.

Gunn lives in New York City.^[16] In a 2006 interview with Instinct, Gunn stated that he had not been in a relationship since the early 1980s, following the abrupt end of a six-year relationship, and that he still loves his former partner, though they are not in contact.^[17]

Gunn is an outspoken critic of clothing designs using animal fur. In 2008, he narrated a video^[18] about rabbit fur farming in China for animal rights group PETA. He termed the treatment of animals used for fur as "egregiously irresponsible".^[19]

Filmography[link]

• The Revolution (January 16, 2012–present)
• Project Runway (2004–present)
• Drinks with LX (2006)
• Ugly Betty (2007)
• Tim Gunn's Guide to Style (2007–2008)
• American Dad! (2008)
• The Replacements (2008)
• Drop Dead Diva (2009)
• Project Runway: All-Star Challenge (2009)
• The Biggest Loser: Second Chances (2009)
• How I Met Your Mother (2010)
• Sex and the City 2 (2010)
• Gossip Girl (2010)
• The Smurfs (2011)
• Teen Spirit (2011)

Published works[link]

• Gunn, Tim; Moloney, Kate (2007), Tim Gunn: A Guide to Quality, Taste & Style, Harry N. Abrams, Inc., ISBN 0-8109-9284-1 
• Gunn, Tim; Calhoun, Ada (September 2010), Gunn's Golden Rules: Life's Little Lessons for Making It Work, Gallery, ISBN 1-4391-7656-6 
• Gunn, Tim (May 2011), Shaken, Not Stirred, Tim Gunn, ASIN B004UN4L9E 

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Tim Gunn

• Tim Gunn at the Internet Movie Database
• Lifetime TV's Project Runway official website
• Chicago Tribune (December 1, 2005): "A chat with Tim Gunn of 'Project Runway'"
• The New York Times (Apr. 12, 2007): "The Headmaster of Fashion"
• Interview: Sarah's Backstage Pass: Sarah Adamson "Style for the Suburban Woman"

Jamie Elizabeth Gunns (November 30, 1985) is a British fashion model signed to Premier Model Management.

Early Years[link]

Jamie Gunns is of Jamaican, Indian, and Caucasian heritage. As a child, Gunns struggled with her weight. By age 10, she weighed 10 stone. After contracting a stomach virus, Gunns lost a great deal a weight and was able to keep it off. As she got older, she grew to a staggering 5'11". At the age of fourteen, she was scouted by a model agent while on holiday in Spain.^[1] Jamie turned the offer down because she felt she was too young. At 16, she was scouted by Premier Model Management and has been represented by them since.^[2]

Career [link]

Early in he career, she booked under the name Jamie Elizabeth. Within the first eight months of being signed to Premier Model Management, she worked with the likes of Chanel, Cosmo Girl, Levis, and Tammy in which she was featured on billboards throughout the UK.^[3] She even took part of the Elite Model Management Look Competition.

Throughout her career, she has landed campaigns with Diesel, Just Cavalli, Lee Jeans, Levi's, Mariella Burani, Max & Co, Michiko Koshino, Oriflame, River Island, Triumph, Bloomingdales, Freemans, Mark Hill Hair Care, Littlewoods, Target, Saks 5th Avenue, Nordstroms, Suggest Body-wear by Pain de Sucre, Bon Prix, Aisha, and ASOS ^[4]

She has graced the covers of the Evening standard, The Sunday Times, Zoot Magazine, Maxim, 2oa, Fantastic Mag.^[5] She has appeared in editiorial for magazines such as You, Glamour, Anglomania, Arena, Maxim, Zoot, Vogue, In 2009, Gunns graced the cover of US Maxim's Swim Suit Issue.^[6]

In 2004, she walked for Marks and Spencer,^[7] Boudicca, Dirk Bikkembergs, Lela Rose, Michiko Koshino, Nanette Lepore, and Red or Dead. In 2005, she walked for Jasper Conrad Spring/Summer 05 Collection in London. In 2006, Gunns took part of Myla's Autumn/ Winter Collection called Myla Debutantes.^[8] In 2007, she walked in the Teen Voice Fashion Show in London and The Rock and Republic S/S 2007 fashion show in NY.^[9]

Gunns has been represented by some the best modeling agencies in the world. Her mother agency is Premier Model Management in London. After competing in the Elite Models Look Competition, she signed to Elite Models in New York, Barcelona, and Munich. In 2007, Jamie left Elite Model Management in New York for IMG Models. A year later, she left IMG for Muse Model Management. Currently, Gunns is signed to Woman Model Management in Milan, Munich Models in Munich, ANC Models in Hamburg, Ulla Models in Amsterdam, The Agency Artist Management in Bern, MC2 Model Management in Tel Aviv, and Premier Model Management in London.^[10]

References[link]

External links [link]

• Jamie Gunn's Premier Model Management page