ALBY BRAND

DOB: April 1922 at the Berri Hospital.

Recollections from Alby

I would think it was Percy Knight that was tied in a sack and dived into river and safely surfaced after anxious moments.

Remembers the Aussie cricketers staying at the Hotel early in 1936 and Alby was successful in obtaining autographs of all team members.

Job at Berri Hotel in late 1935. Spoke with Winks Garnett, daughter of Warrie and Queenie, and she encouraged Alby to apply for a job at the Winery and was hired.

Brother Vic was an apprentice electrician and cousin Mick Dolan was a fireman at the winery.

Remembers Charlie "Chook" Bland.

Old "Wally' with the sulphur dioxide cylinder on cart

Manager was strict but a fair bloke. This was Warrington Garnett.

Work hours were 7.30am to 5pm Monday to Friday and 7.30am to noon on Saturday.

Cellar Foreman was of German descent, quiet and kindly. Possibly Alf Wuttke?

"Krausie" and I waxed tanks.

Herman Wierenga was both a carpenter and engineer and could fix anything.

The common yoyo to sample a sly nip from a cask in the overhead storage saw old "Able" enjoy a nip too many, lost his footing and broke an arm on his descent to the Cellar floor.

The Winery float for the 1936 Centenery Parade features a large cask and Alby thought it was was the best exhibit. Was it the Thornycroft truck?

1937 and it was export time with the long barrel walk full of casks and at the end platform the barrels were rolled onto the the "Thorneycroft" truck to be taken over the Sturt Highway to the Karoom Siding and then went to Port Adelaide for export to England. "Ike" Jenkinson was the driver and his manadatory waterbag was usually filled with a Port wine that had been well matured in a small keg.
Mark ?, one of the workshop staff was always talking about faraway places and Alby wanted change of scenery and resigned from the winery and left for Sydney early December 1937.

Brother Vic Brand was an apprentice electrician at the winery and when completed his time left to join an Engineering firm in Renmark.

Tom ran the Cellar and was a member of the Town Band.

The blending pump was mentioned by Noel Burge.

Back to Winery in 1948 and in 1949 the hours of work changed from 48 to 44 hours per week. Alby had returned to cellar work and then was appointed to the gardener's position. Lyle Nairn was the manager. I believe Alec Kelly was the works manager who briefed the workforce. Ted Haby then was employed as gardener to replace Alby.

Getting to work was a huge task with crossing the punt and catching the winery utility and a punt travelling friend (Arthur Graue?) gave me pointer for a job at the Eudunda Farmers in Berri township which I achieved.
So in 1950 I made the change, and there was George Greenwood in the Men's wear department, a friend and ex army mate who he had been home on leave with in 1942.

Alby passed away suddenly at home on Wednesday 30th April 2003.
Wife Betty and funeral held on Monday May 2nd 2003. Interred in the "Garden of Memory".

Alby Brand pictured here in 1937..