Brian Clark interviewed by Karen George in the Apples and pears oral history project [sound recording]
- Bib ID:
- 4739680
- Format:
- Audio
- Author:
- Clark, B. A. (Brian Allison), interviewee
- Online Access:
- National Library of Australia digitised item
- Access Conditions:
- Access open for research, personal copies and public use.
- Description:
-
- 2009
- 2 sound files (ca. 146 min.)
- Series:
- Apples and pears oral history project.
- Technical Details:
- Mode of access: Online.
- Summary:
-
Brian Clark talks about his great grandfather's property, purchased in 1837 and acreage; the beginnings of the Huon apple industry; the transformation of land into apple orchard; early export methods; the growth of the apple industry and transport of produce; his family background and childhood memories; his father's orchard, use of horses in hand spraying; the changes in spraying methods; the varieties grown in 1930s-40s, the layout on the property; picking, carting and grading; decline of larger trees and beginning of dwarf planting; hand thinning and spraying; wages for labour; biological controls; the picking season from February-June; picking conditions; packing of apples for export and interstate marketing; problems with shipping after WWII; how fruit was packed in father's time, the introduction of different types of boxes, cases and cartons; his schooling and sporting interests as a boy; his desire to return to the farm; finishing school (1947) and starting work on father's orchard as employee; the expansion of the property and cultivation of orchard; the change from horses to tractors; sawmilling wood for apple cases, cutting timber and timber used for cases; his uncle's property, sharing resources as a family; differences in the seasons, night work in the apple season, work hours; labourers for case making, grading and packing; his mother's role and her death; apple labelling, use of exporter's label and own brand; changes to export system to South East Asia; packing patterns for different sizes of apples and apple wrapping; nailing down and wiring cases; the introduction of forklifts and pallets.
Clark discusses taking over his father's property (1964), his brother's work as an exporter; the state of the industry in mid 1960s; increasing the acreage of the property, clearing land with bulldozers, planting new trees, decisions about root stocks and varieties; the introduction of drip irrigation in the early 1960s; closer planting of new areas using hedge rows; pruning; experiments with spray thinning on his property; coping with Biennial cropping; the Suez Canal incident (1967) and loss of fruit; the role of State Fruit Board and Apple and Pear Board looking after interests of the industry; his work as National President of the Australian Apple and Pear Growers Association and on Horticultural Growers' Council and their roles; balancing running property with industry involvements; seeking government assistance for growers; the beginnings of bulk handling in the 1970s, expansion of orchards and irrigation; the introduction of cold storage; transporting his own fruit and unloading on the wharf; Port of Hobart; inspections of fruit by Department of Agriculture; controlled atmosphere storage; local road-side marketing when exporting collapsed in mid 1980s; the decline of the industry; handing over of property to his daughter in mid 1980s, her innovative ideas and changes to the farm; the introduction of Stabilisation Scheme in 1971 and how it worked; the demise of smaller growers; challenges, lack of recompense; country life; his hope for the future of the industry; an Award from the Tasmanian Apple and Pear Growers' Association for his contributions; Statutory Marketing Authority; the role of the State Fruit Board; attending conferences; sums up life on the property.
- Notes:
- Recorded on 1 December 2009 at Franklin, Tas.
- Index/Finding Aid Note:
- Timed summary (8 p.)
- Subject:
- Occupation:
- Fruit growers
- Other authors/contributors:
- George, Karen, 1962-, interviewer
- Related Records:
-
This belongs to the Apples and pears oral history project.
This collection contains 14 records. - Copyright:
-
In Copyright
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- Reason for copyright status:
- Until 2079 [Created/Published Date + 70 Years]
Copyright status was determined using the following information:
- Material type:
- Sound Recording
- Published status:
- Unpublished
- Creation date:
- 2009
Copyright status may not be correct if data in the record is incomplete or inaccurate. Other access conditions may also apply. For more information please see: Copyright in library collections.
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