Herman Wierenga in 1947

Herman was at Berri in the 1937 photo and then spent 1946 and 1947 at Tarac, Berri. He the returned to the winery and he was appointed Workshop Foreman in 1958 after Harry Foreman had asked to be transferred to the winery to look after the Chiller refrigeration system. Sadly Herman passed away in November 1960.

Jack Webber in 1947 Jack is in the 1937 photo and also worked at the Loveday camp, Assume he did that until his return in 1947 and worked both in the cellar and the cement gang until he retired in 1961

Judy Morris (Shakespeare-Goode) in 1947

Ron Cornish in 1947

Ron was a laboratory assistant

Rosemary Nicholson ( Swinstead) in 1947

With Rosemary Nicolson at 63 Balham Ave, Kingswood SA

Rosemary was employed at BCWD in 1947 and first job was on the switchboard. Always remembers how she could see the chimney smoke from the boiler stacks at the Winery. It was either a head wind push on the bicycle to work and a tail wind home or vice-versa. Was being courted by Murray Nicolson, who was employed at B.C.P.U factory, and Murray would ride over to the Winery in his lunch hour. Married in January 1950. Remembers that Jean Bowie was secretary to Lyle Nairn after "Warrie" Garnett left.

Pat Dansie was in the office.
Max Schultz, son of Charlie Schultz was in the workshop.
Bill Kidman was in the Bond Store.
A lad named Cornish was employed in the Laboratory.
A Mr. Butterworth worked in the Cellar.
Re the Wright sisters;" Chickie" had left before Rosemary started, but Shirley was there in the Office. Try (08)8588 2254
Lorna Setterberg was employed in the Tarac Office. Married named Brearley.

Estelle Law was late for work and eventually turned up without her small motorbike. Apparently had a spill before the Winkie road bridge. Estelle had no recollection and must have been concussed. Need comment back from Estelle. Shipping Agents in this period were Begg & Sons (I assume at Pt Adelaide).

Murray Thomas Nicolson, BSc.

Born 24 November 1925-Passed away 8 October 1995
Murray's schooling included Highgate Primary School, Unley High School and Prince Alfred's College.
He completed his tertiary education at the University of Adelaide in 1945, graduating with a Batchelor of Science Degree, majoring in Inorganic, Organic
and Physical Chemistry. Classmate with Bryce Rankine. Bryce still keeps in contact with Rosemary on a regular basis. His first place of employment was with the Berri Cooperative Packing Union, which then became Berri Fruit Juices. Murray played a pivotal role in establishing the production lines and the laboratory , where he maintained strict quality control. As Production Manager of Berri Fruit Juices he visited California, U.S.A. to inspect other fruit-juicing plants and to expand his knowledge of the latest techniques and equipment. Murray was acknowledged as one of the leading experts in his field of canned fruit juices and concentrates. During his time with Berri Fruit Juices he owned a managed a mixed fruit property adjacent to the Winkie road at Glossop. Property previously owned by John and Elspeth Gray who purchased the Nairn home in Vaughan Tce in the Berri township (Nairn's, MaCrae's and McKay's homes were along this section). After 20 years with fruit juices, Murray changed his career path to the Wine Industry and was appointed to the position of Chemist in January 1967. Again, he applied his vast knowledge and experience in his chosen field of production management and quality control. Murray initiated and supervised the production line for the now famous Berri Estates 5 litre "Bag-in -the Box" range of wines. After 31 years of trials and tribulations in Industry, Murray decided to take a break.

With much coercion he agreed to provide his skills for Moore Bros Fruit Juices at Loxton and again his efforts for quality control and procedures contributed to their business prosperity and continued until 1984 when Murray decided to retire to the Block. With the majority of their children and grandchildren in Adelaide they sold up and moved to the family home at Kingswood. In his retirement, Murray always valued his colleagues in the industry and maintained regular contact with his fellow chemists through the "Retired Chemist's Association" Murray passed away in October 1995 and Rosemary is a busy "Granny"

Adele Friman in 1948 With Adel on Tuesday 27th Jan 2004. The men used to say "Here comes a bag of spuds" when they spotted Adel running errands around the winery. I commented that when I first knew her she was certainly not plump. Adel explained that in those days a bag of spuds weighed 112 pounds, and that weight inspired the "bag of spuds" nickname.

Adel was secretary to Lyle Nairn, and he had the habit of chewing blotting paper while was dictating correspondence. Adel found it very distracting and one of her first duties in the morning was to install a fresh sheet of blotting paper in the desk folder.

Lyle Nairn was always a last minute person when he was making a business trip and Adel would arrange his flights with J. C. Irving Pty Ltd in Berri, and then with the every time delays Adel would have to phone and delay the flight.We also spoke of Lyle's nickname of "Feathery Legs". Bob Schell had also mentioned the same.

Alan Taylor in 1948
Joe Brown in 1948
Johnnie Jackson in 1948
Patricia Coudrey ( Waye) in 1948

Bob Schell

Bob Schell and his wife Joyce in 2002. I had a Visit to Bob and Joyce Schell to chat about the days at BCWD RR & SJ Schell McLaren Vale Road McLaren Vale SA

I picked up Brian Barry at Union Street and we headed off to McLaren Vale with wind and rain all the way. Had wrong street number and Brian popped into the Police Station and back to No. 91 and found it was a retirement village. A kind resident pointed us to the Schell residence. It was 37 years since I had seen Bob and Joyce. I had made contact some weeks ago to give Bob a chance to recall the events of his time at Berri.

Before 1949 Bob was in the Army during 1941-1947 and had service in the Pacific and Japan. He re-enlisted in 10/48th Battalion CMF at Renmark in 1951-1952 Commenced in the 1949 vintage on the weighbridge testing the grape Baume and recording the weight, variety etc. Then spent 12 months in the Wine Sales/free-store and there was a regular tourist bus (name?) trade at the winery and the tourists would then proceed to the Barmera Hotel for the night. One little story was that Norm Gerlach, the AWU organizer, told Bob that he would have to join the union or lose his job. Howard Penrhyn spoke to Cec. Lever and Bob was made a member of the staff. Next experience was with Alec Kelly and Ray Harrip in the Bond Office maintaining the records of spirit and brandy movements. Bob was also given some experience in tasting evaluations of sprit and brandy which he found was very interesting an enjoyable.

Bob then spent a period learning the distilling operation and following that he also qualified for his Boiler Attendant Certificate after a stint on the boilers.
Bob then was at Woodside Barracks for a fortnight in 1952. It so happened that I was in the 2nd National Service intake.
Appointed payroll officer after Alan (Squizzy) Taylor left in 1954.

In 1955 he was appointed Paymaster/Purchasing Officer and held this position until his resignation in August 1964.
Doug. Collett arranged a job for Bob with Ray White at White Engineering in Adelaide and Bob worked there until 1979 and then with JVC Engineering until 1982.

Other recollections

Bob used to bring the Barmera employees to Glossop and Bill Westley would then drive into pick up the Berri employees. In my time it was Roy Wilden on the Berri leg.

Bill Westley

Bill started as vintage cellar hand and then took over in the Wine Sales after Bob moved the Bond Store in 1950 or 1951. I remember Bill being in charge of the Freestore in 1951.

Howard Penrhyn was there before Bob. Laboratory building southwest office in 1951

Roy Wilden Started in 1950
Wine records clerk in 1951 in main laboratory.

Alec Kelly
Located in the Laboratory building southeast office in 1951.
Bob was sure that Alec Kelly had installed the APV Pasteuriser in the main cellar.

Alec was Assistant Manager in my time and must have left in 1952 to go to LCWD.

Doug Collett

Doug was at the main desk in the Main Laboratory until Alec Kelly left and moved into Alec's office having been appointed Technical Manager in late 1952. Doug resigned in December 1966 when Cec. Lever was appointed General Manager. Doug passed away on the 26.5.2004

Ray Harrip
Raynor Joseph Frederick. Check BDM for birth date. Ian Glatz said it was just prior to the 1970 vintage. Both Ray and Bill Kidman retired on the same Friday in January 1970.

Brian Barry

Brian joined Berri in July 1952 as Assistant Winemaker. On my return from Woodside Alec Kelly had left, Doug. moved to his office and Brian was at the main Laboratory desk. Brian was appointed Winemaker in December 1966 following Doug Collett's resignation. He resigned in 1976 and went to manage the Stanley Wine Co. at Clare. He resigned from Stanley in 1980 and started his wine consultancy business. Brian is seen here in his old chair at Berri on September 10th, 2001. Great memories!