any new guides due out

[frenc11]

anyone know if any new catalougues are out soon , and if they will show increase in prices

[Bigfellani5]

Thank Maccas is dead in the water. Renniks for Xmas

[frenc11]

Thank Maccas is dead in the water. Renniks for Xmas

thanks for the heads up

[Greg McDonald]

Where did you get that Idea BigFella.  Don't remember having a discussion with you about my future. You should be the last bloke to put the boot in.  Don't you remember that I gave you free advertising space to help you kick off your business when you started.

No good deed will ever go unpunished.

[Goldseeker]

Where did you get that Idea BigFella.  Don't remember having a discussion with you about my future. You should be the last bloke to put the boot in.  Don't you remember that I gave you free advertising space to help you kick off your business when you started.

No good deed will ever go unpunished.

Greg:-   Does that mean we will be seeing a new catalogue in the not too distant future?

[Greg McDonald]

Hi Goldseeker,

Firstly, thank you very sincerely for being a solid supporter for as long as I can remember.  I have felt very badly that I have not been able to keep collectors up to-date with details with future editions.

The reasons for this lack of communication has been very complex and involves me being involved in three court cases since 2012 - None of them being instigated by me or due to me doing anything wrong.  Some of the issues that have seriously impacted on me and my family defy belief.  

This included my personal files being mixed up with another Gregory John McDonald born the same day, same year.  He was a bankrupted back in 2013 and imprisoned for some unknown reason.  All I know is that my "doubleganger" was a truck driver living in Sydney. I would also assume he had a different drivers licence and Tax File Number. Even so, all the above details - plus details of his credit rating - were accidentally put on my file. I was not made aware of the error until late 2019. Without knowing the reason why, the bank started calling in loans and efforts to refinance with other lenders were rejected.

While litigation, and other associated issues are still be finalised, my solicitor has advised me not to go into detail about the various issues.  I can appreciate the need to do that but, from point of view, it has been very distressing that I cannot respond to positive enquiries such as yours, Goldseeker or defend myself against uninformed comments.  
 
To try and solve both issues, I have asked my solicitor to prepare the following statement.  To be honest, I would love to continue to produce future books but I have no control over certain issues my solicitor is working through.  


To whom it may concern,


Re:  Mr Gregory John McDonald

I am pleased to give Mr Gregory John McDonald ("Greg") this reference, although the circumstances are tragic.

I met Greg when I began working for a law firm in Albury, NSW, called "Belbridge Hague Solicitors", early in 2013.  Greg was a client of the firm.  He had engaged them when a client of his business made an allegation against him that threatened to seriously affect his reputation in the industry in which he was engaged.

Greg is a numismatist, a highly regarded expert in coins and bank notes.  His business involved trading coins and banknotes for investors and collectors.  Greg also wrote the seminal text on the valuation of coins and banknotes, published annually for over 25 years.  The business was highly successful and Greg took pride in his work and in helping people.

Late 2012, a client of Greg's business, who was a collector, made an accusation against him claiming an incorrect valuation on a number of her coins and banknotes.  To protect his reputation, he was forced to defend the claim.  The litigant was relentless and the matter went on for approximately 2 years.  Eventually, it was found by the court that she had blatantly lied about her claim, defamed Greg in many forums and tormented him and his family personally.  One of her practices was to leave terrible messages on his answering machine with nasty messages about his children, which Greg's wife and young family could hear.

The stress of this time led to Greg's first heart attack.  It has seriously damaged his physical health and that of his wife.  It has also damaged their mental health.  I have such admiration for this family, who have continued to support and love one another through this ordeal.

Despite winning the case, the effect of the case damaged Greg's business, as he was taken away from the business and involved conferences with lawyers, conferences with barristers, court hearings and writing, and re-writing, lengthy affidavits, rather than his book and business newsletter.

To add further to the  distress of the situation, the law firm representing Greg took all of the costs awarded to Greg and claimed that the costs were theirs in legal fees – [OVER $300,000].  This should have been disputed in a formal costs assessment but by this time, Greg and his family were emotionally and physically exhausted and had no resources to continue.  This created further heartache as the mortgagee then took proceedings against them, claiming their family home and doing everything further they could to destroy his capacity to financially recover.

Again, these further proceedings with the Commonwealth Bank of Australia tested Greg's resolve and he battled on [For over six years] with such ferocious courage to protect his wife and family, at the cost of his health, which continued to diminish.

Greg is an honest and a kind man.  He is and a loving husband and devoted father. He was attacked without cause or fault, and because of this despicable act, he has suffered beyond human endurance.  

I am proud to know him and to call him a friend, and I admire him greatly for his courage and tenacity.  


Yours faithfully
Duly Served Legal & Consulting

Deborah Culhane
Principal
Enc.

[Basilstate]

Hi Greg,sorry to hear all of that,nearly 10 years of Drama,i hope you come out the otherside Ok and stronger for it.

Lots of ratbags/scammers/criminals in Coin/Stamp collecting circles,lucklily i have managed to side step most of them over the years.
Nearly every Dealer i have had dealings with over the years always had a copy of your Books nearby for valuations/mintage figures.
I have coin collecting friends in Newcastle and they say 'Bigfella" has closed his shop(apparently a fire or break in or both) and is working from home,i don't know if its permanent or just a Covid thing.He will probably Post on here to clear things up.

AtB for the future and we hope to see another edition....Ian.

[Greg McDonald]

Hi Ian,

I appreciate your kind comments.  Not being able to write my books has been right up there with the affects all these issues have had on my three kids. I know Shane well enough to say his comments were not malicious, but equally not helpful.  I have had to prioritise the negatives over the years so personal criticism hardly rates.  I expected negative comments from people who don't like my books -and that's ok.  I have a lot of respect for BigFella who has been to hell and back as you suggested.  Whether rightly, or wrongly, I reacted to his comments knowing he understands the ups and downs of running a business and someone who tried to help him when he was going through a tough time.
Thanks again for your support.

Cheers
Greg

[Goldseeker]

All I wish for Greg is that all will be sorted out in the not too distant future and that you and your family can continue to live a normal life.

[Pedro]

[quote="Goldseeker" pid='125557' dateline='1631532684']
All I wish for Greg is that all will be sorted out in the not too distant future and that you and your family can continue to live a normal life.
[/quote]

Seconded.

Pedro

[Bigfellani5]

Hi Greg....I have just seen this post again. Have not been around for a few months.

I do apologise if for my comment. No malice intended.

I did send you an email many moons ago about a book update and got no reply. I sent you a PM on this forum as well with no reply. I have heard a lot of rumours around the industry about your book not being reprinted.

I know you have had health and legal issues which must be a huge drain on time, resources and mental health.

I do want your book to continue and having edited the $1 coin section for you one year back when I had my shop you should know I support you.

I sincerely wish you well and hope to see you next book sooner rather than later and again apologise for any comment I made.

[Bigfellani5]

forgot to say.....Spoke to Ian 2 weeks ago. Renniks book now march

[frenc11]

[quote="Bigfellani5" pid='125737' dateline='1636264148']
forgot to say.....Spoke to Ian 2 weeks ago. Renniks book now march
[/quote]

thanks for the update

[Basilstate]

Renniks turned up this week,great effort with realistic values.
Still buy Greg's if he has another go to update,feel more comfortable with his books.

[JeffH]

Greg's pocket books are my preference too. I wonder if there will be another. Maybe he has decided to get a life instead of all the hassles.