Walsh, Brian

DESCRIPTION

NameWalsh, BrianOccupationIllawarra Cooperative Central Dairy StaffBiographyBrian Thomas Walsh was born in 1931 to Michael Joseph and Catherine Maud Walsh (nee Schmidt). He married Janet Ann Smith in 1963.

Brian, an employee for 43 years at the Illawarra Co-operative Central Dairy Factory in Creamery Road Albion Park Rail, recalled his first days at the factory in 1949;

Tuesday morning was Butter Day. Jimmy Aitkin had the big coal fed boiler firing at 140c head of steam. Kevin ‘Sarah’ Raftery was draining the buttermilk from the great wooden churn in the butter room. The farmers, some with horse and cart were arriving with their morning delivery in 10 gallon milk cans, manhandling these cans on to the conveyor and pushing them up to Fred Sawtell to grade and hence tip into weighing vats, to weigh and record.

Audrey Brooker was there to record and sample each vat for testing etc. Noel ‘Wombat’ Pryor was taking a sample for sediment testing on the way up the conveyor. Cyril Collins by this time had arrived with spotless shining shoes to open the office, and started to serve out one pound and half pounds of butter to the farmers as required.

The ‘Boss’ Bob Graham ‘the Longfella’ had also arrived at the office. Bert Swan is rolling a smoke, whilst waiting his turn out in the yard. ‘Sarah’ requested me to get some anti-slip solution from Joe Small in the engine room, because the leather belt was slipping on the pulley of the butter churn. I was also checking to see if Charlie Clark had arrived and was unloading the rabbits into the cool room, where the rabbits were stored by local rabbit trappers.

THE STORE

During the early 1940s Cec Sweeney was the man to see regarding seed and produce etc. from the large galvanized shed backing onto the railway line at the Illawarra Co-operative Central Dairy. Directly across the yard, a small brick building was built to store drummed petrol, oils and diesel. There were some steel post, barbed wire, knee boots etc in small quantities. Kevin ‘Sarah’ Raftery more or less looked after this area. As demand grew for these and other goods, I asked permission to transfer to a larger area. The position agreed on was directly off the Old Engine Room. We operated from an old laminated table and cash box. Jack Sharp or Alwyn Martin would, at closing time each day, collect, count and balance the contents. This area was fairly primitive by today's standards, but through word of mouth and keeping the prices down, it eventually contributed to a very substantial income for the Society, particularly during the time when the number of suppliers to the Co-operative was diminishing.

We sold King Gee clothing, Clayburn riding boots, footwear from Dunlop, Baxter, Blundstone, insecticides for the farm and home, bulk detergents, garden tools, gates and all types of bolts, screws, nails, drenches and lots more.

The tanker drivers, Ron Walker, Barry Green and Stuart Moore brought daily orders in from the farmers. I always made an effort if a customer required an article, hence the talk was ‘go down to Creamery Road to the Co-op Store. Brian and Alwyn will get it for you and the prices are right’. As time moved on and with the amalgamation with Dairy Farmers, we were requiring more room and moved into the disused engine room.

Some years later, we had to move again to the front of the building to the Old Butter Room. But let us not forget the early days of the Co-op Store'.

Brian was honoured at a ceremony held at ACF Bomaderry Head Office, when Manager Ken Jobson presented him with gold watch for 43 years service.

Contributed by Brian Walsh 2006.

Photograph

Paralympic Official Brian Walsh

Noel Prior (left) and Brian Walsh packing butter, Illawarra Cooperative Central Dairy factory

Milk processing at Illawarra Cooperative Central Dairy factory Brian Walsh on the left, Kevin Raftery on the right

Brian Walsh washing milk cans at Illawarra Cooperative Central Dairy factory

Brian Walsh with the Australian flag during Macquarie Pass Centenary Parade

Albion Park Show Rural Youth & Junior Farmers Competition

Weighing butter at the IIllawarra Cooperative Central Dairy Factory, Albion Park Rail

Pouring milk at the Illawarra Cooperative Central Dairy Factory, Albion Park Rail

Dairy Farmers milk truck outside Illawarra Coperative Central Dairy Factory, Albion Park Rail

Junior Farmer's judging at Albion Park Show 1954

Noel Prior (left) and Brian Walsh packing butter, Illawarra Cooperative Central Dairy factory, Albion Park Rail, c.1950.

CONNECTIONS

CollectionPeopleLocalityAlbion Park RailPlaceIllawarra Cooperative Central Dairy Factory

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Walsh, Brian