Steve Horvat

Born in 1928

Arrived in Australia March 1957.

Steve Horvat commenced on 13th November 1961. Retired 27th December 1996.

Recollections from Steve

The Pine trees east of No. 2 Cellar.

Steve had asked re planting trees and would train same. I said go ahead. Steve ordered the trees and when the supplier went to the office to get his cheque it had to go through the chain of signatories and ended with Cec Lever. A whole story was unfolded with Steve making the mistake of saying that he ordered the pine trees instaed of staying with his story that hae had cleared it with Brian Barry and myself. Cec went of overboard about the pennies and not the result. Now, in 2004, the trained pines are a feature at the east end of the property.

Steve also talked about his Superannuation scheme start.

Steve also was having trouble deciphering my writing on the operation forms. I had a rather unique way of printing and it was proving to be a problem for Steve, but not for the other distillers. Eventually, one day day I wrote out an operatio instruction and at the bottom of the form I added "Steve Needs Glasses". He had trouble with that and asked the boys, was rather upset with me, and then had an eye test, and with his first pair of glasses, could read all sorts of things, as well as my messages.

Steve had a story about Bill Wilden, who, at some stage stage, was relegated to the stillhouse staff. One of the distillation units, called C3 had an annual maintenance check that required a person entering the bottom of the column and check each plate for damage anfd/or retention of solids. To do this, you undid the securing bolts and freed the center section and prop that to one side. and then move on upwards to the next plate. Repeating this procedure until you reached the top plate in the column. All you had for comfort was a light and an updraught of air. The major discomfort was the lack of space!
This particular morning Steve told Bill that he was to take on the task and Bill's reaction was immediately "No Way". Steve insisted and Bill started about 8.30 am and when he came out for 10 am "Smoko" he was complaining about the lack of room as well as sporting a cut elbow. A very unhappy chap. When Bill was asked how many plates he had checked, his reply was "one". Nevertheless Bill carried on with the job.

Denis Morgen's Melbourne flagon round. Steve had heard about the scheme and reported it to me and suggested Berri should do the same. I told Lever and he went direct to Steve and angrily told Steve that he was the Commercial Manager and would make those decisions.

Story 1

Was working for Harry Tucker as a block hand in 1961. Saw an add in the Murray Pioneer for a plasterer at the winery. Met Bert Solly and Steve was shown the new 10,000 gallons tanks on the east side of Tanks 417-424. Asked if he could apply a plaster coat he said 'Sure". Was offered 3 months work and it was a big decision to leave a job but the difference in wages prompted him to take the chance. Steve worked with the gang until the 1962 vintage and he was given a job on the Willmes Presses. All went well until on one shift he did not replace a locking pin and an access door fell into the screw conveyor and caused a major hiccup. After vintage he returned to civil works and was then offered a Saturday job firing the boilers. SEE Previous notes about this story.

Story 2

He tells the story of how he was uncertain about his tenure and everytime he saw Doug. Collett about the winery he would dart behind whatever cover he could find. This went on for some time and one day he was cornered and said hullo to Doug and said "Are you about fire me". Doug said' Certainly not, we cannot do without you". I guess from that day on Steve relaxed and got on with job and as the story unfolds you can see what happened.

Steve Horvat in November of 2002