In 1967 a man named Graeme Clark, inspired by his close relationship with his deaf father and his frustration and anguish in being isolated by not being able to hear, began researching the possibility of an electronic implantable hearing device. In 1978, after years of research the first cochlear implant surgery took place. In 1995, after celebrating the 10,000th Nucleus recipient Cochlear was successfully listed on the Australian Stock Exchange.

Steve Jobs, who with Steve Wozniak who invented Apple computers was an adopted child who was described as an intelligent and innovative thinker who hated school. However, with these skills he began successful companies in Apple and Pixar, changing the way we use technology and even watch movies.

The sharemarket is not a casino, it is human endeavour at work. It is people who want to help their families like Professor Clark, it is full of people’s ideas like Steve Jobs that change the way we live our day to day lives, it is companies making medicines that can change people’s lives forever.

Every day we are surrounded by productive enterprise, and we cannot get away from it. From the moment your alarm went off this morning (Origin Energy, Sony), when you made your lunch (Woolworth’s/Wesfarmers), that CD you bought on your way home (JB Hi-Fi), to when you put your feet up for a hard earned beer (SABMiller) to watch the football (Channel 7).

A great example of human endeavour at work can be seen in this recent story on Sunday Night. The story of the little child Cooper who with an implant heard sounds for the first time. For the full story click here click here

By David Ramsay