Victorian reseller wins IBM space flight

IBM Destination X competition winner Wayne Glynne was "in shock” this morning after winning a seat on Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic space craft.

The Melbourne-based general manager of Southern Cross Computer Systems (2009 CRN Fast50 No. 31) was not present at an IBM hosted gala dinner in Sydney’s Doltone House last night where tables of eligible resellers anxiously awaited the draw. 

The evening's entertainment, scientist Dr Karl Kruszelnick (pictured below), did little to quench the anticipation, instead adding to it with his detailed descriptions of the futuristic vehicle. 

Glynne, who was home with his phone on silent last night, heard the news this morning. 

“I actually found out this morning. IBM tried to give me a call last night but my phone was on silent. Then the texts started to fly this morning,” he told CRN.

Director of IBM Australia’s partner organisation Phil Cameron (below right) drew Glynne’s card but cautiously advised the guests that the winner was not present. 

Comical calls for a redraw were denied based on the competition’s terms and conditions. Sales staff received one ticket for every System X sale valued at over $100,000. 

“As the general manager at Southern Cross I own the IBM targets and I was working towards achieving all of the IBM targets. I do have a client that I work with: a single client and that single client forwarded me the opportunity and put a ticket in the draw.

“I don’t know how many tickets I had in the end but I know a colleague had 18 tickets. He had an exceptional year with us but unfortunately there’s only one winner and fortunately that was me,” he said.

A father of three, Glynne was “wrestling with the decision” as to whether he would accept the prize.  

“I’ve only told my wife, I haven’t told my kids yet. I’ll sit down with them this evening and go through the [Galactic] DVD.  My youngest is nine and my eldest is 15, so they will absolutely understand what this means.

 “I need a little bit more information before I make a commitment one way or another. I am very excited.”

Virgin Galactic was the brainchild of Virgin founder Sir Richard Branson. Yet to make its commercial flight, deposits were taken to reserve a place on SpaceShipTwo since 2005.

The starting price for flights is $200,000, with refundable deposits starting from $20,000.