We are deeply saddened to share the loss of Kim Bailey, a truly valued member of our family business community, both here in WA and nationally. A dear friend to so many, mentor, and cherished member of the family business community, Kim’s presence, wisdom, and warmth will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
To honour his memory, we’re sharing a tribute written by Mauri Mucciacciaro:
The Baileys' family business began in 1926 as a retail business servicing market gardeners, flower producers and poultry and dairy farmers. Kim Bailey joined the family business at age 18, which began trading as CH Bailey & Son and went on to producing and distributing their own turf and horticultural fertilisers and potting mixes. In 1992, Kim Bailey moved the business, now trading as Baileys Fertilisers, to its current location in Kwinana, where their fertiliser granulation and composting plant could grow to support demand from Bunnings and the developing home garden market in WA.
Kim Bailey retired in 2017 after serving as Managing Director for 46 years, taking up the role of Chairman and enjoying a well-earned retirement. In 2021, Baileys was approached and acquired by Evergreen Garden Care, the largest garden care company in Europe and Australasia.
Baileys Fertiliser was inducted in the Family Business Association Hall of Fame in November 2016. Kim Bailey personally was a committee member for the WA committee, he was a long-standing member of the forum groups (only resigned from the group recently) and was a vocal member of the organisation, regularly expressing his opinion for the better. If I am not mistaken, we can credit Kim Bailey for a new level of membership post-retirement, so he could still be involved. The Alumni membership!
Kim Bailey attended numerous Family Business Association conferences, his last conference would be in Cairns in May 2024.
RIP Kimberley Charles Walter Bailey
