VALE ANTHONY ROBERT CHISHOLM

On the morning of Thursday October 29, 2015, Anthony Robert Chisholm, father of Rick Chisholm – CEO of Lightsounds and LSW Imports and Distribution – passed away at the age of 92 after a battle with a rare skin cancer known as Merkel Cell Carcinoma.  Nita Chisholm, Rick’s mother, also passed away just 3 months earlier.

1998 Tony and Nita Chisholm

Anthony, better known as Tony to most, was a popular hard working larrikin in the industry and a World War II Kokoda Track veteran who originated from the Tenterfield NSW area.

In the early 1980’s, Tony founded with his son Rick, their first entertainment company A Ball-Entertainment. Tony did anything he could to help build and grow the business from manufacturing of DJ consoles and speakers to paperwork to logistics.  He worked in the industry form 1983 through till late 2013 at the age of 90.

In 1990, Tony was co-director of another company that went on to become Leading Source Wholesale better known as LSW.  Tony was known for his relentless work ethic and energy that would put younger generations to shame noting that he started in the industry at the age of 60.

In later years, Tony’s role primarily related to local deliveries to Lightsounds outlets and dealers, also odd jobs in the warehouse and errands. Till the end his mantra was “let’s just get the job done”. Nita had a smaller office role in the business in the early years.

Anyone over the last 30 years who had anything to do with the many businesses that he has been involved in including, but not limited to, A Ball Entertainment, Lightsounds, Entertainment Lighting and Sound Technologies, Nightsounds, the family brands AE Australia, Light-Emotion and E-Systems,  will remember Tony – a man of few words but always straight to the point. Rick and Tony were as close as a father and son could be – the dynamic duo behind the businesses in those early years.

Tony was laid to rest in Woronora where an RSL service was held last Thursday in the same chapel as Nita’s.    Tony and Nita leave behind their son Rick and daughters Toni and Sue.  The association extends its condolences to the family.

Tony and Nita will be sadly missed.  RIP.