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Voices of the Hunter

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Jack Delaney

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Voices of the Hunter

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Fred Drayton (1886-1983) - wine maker. Recorded 11 April 1978. Part 1/1

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SummaryFred Drayton
Recorded 11 April 1978
Part 1 of 1

0:18
George Slade stated that Fred would know a fair bit about the early days of the area. Bill Drayton is Fred’s uncle, Charlie Drayton is his father, Joseph Drayton is Fred’s Grandfather, his Fathers Father, and he came from England. Ellen was Mrs Sam Thompson, Harry Drayton, George Drayton, Mary Drayton, Mary married Bill Lambkin, out on the vineyard, Cliff Lambkin worked at Lindeman’s, and he is Bill’s son. Fred Drayton was born in Rothbury, 1886.

2:31
Bill Drayton had nine boys and one girl, Mrs Alf Cobby, Harry Drayton, George Drayton, Ernie Drayton, Walter Drayton, Wes Drayton, Reg Drayton, Len Drayton. Barry Drayton is son of Ernie Allan Drayton. John "Jock" Drayton was a taxi driver, one of Harry’s sons. All of them involved in the Vineyards .May be George’s boys Ellis Drayton, Max Drayton. Ellis used to work on the railroad.

4:27
Lived at Nulkaba for last 50 years, he worked on the vineyards when he left school, Holmes' when he first left school, then Charlie Mansfield, then Lindeman's, then at "The Distillery" near Trevina. Worked for Maurie O'Shea. Fred was working on the early vineyards, stated that there as many vineyards then as there are now, just not as big. Worked for Arthur Kellman.

6:14
Fred’s Father worked at Holmes' vineyard when he was 17 and was there when he died at the age of 84. Fred had six girls no boys, his first daughter married Ted Stewart, second to Harold Ellicott, third to Cecil Walter, fourth to Frank Phillips, and the last to Max Parkinson. Mary Drayton, Gertie Drayton, Mabel Drayton, Eileen Drayton, Rita Drayton. Fred used to work for Keith Tulloch and his brother Hector Tulloch on the vineyard.

8:00
Fred hasn’t seen the new modern grape growing methods but from what he hears he doesn’t like the way they do it. Mechanical harvesters he thinks are no good as they knock the vine around too much, and misses some, it’s not a good system. Fred recalls pruning grapes at Holmes' estate, he trained himself in pruning and vineyards. Spencer Holmes was the boss then. Fred married a Lambkin, his father-in-law is Jim Lambkin.

12:34
When it wasn’t pruning season he would work on the vines, hoeing, racking in the cells, filling the bottles and casks. He had the reputation as the best pruner in the district. Went to work in another district at Lindeman, Ross Miller was in charge, him and Colin Campbell. Colin was a wonderful boss but gossipers said he wasn’t a good boss.

16:35
Went to Billy DeByer and worked on the property, only got 4 bob a day. John Robb was McWilliam's manager, when he left Brian Weiss took over, and asked Fred to come and prune for him and try to bring the 33 back, because they were going to dig it out, so he had to chop it back. Warned Brian there would not be many grapes that first year. George Stewart came with him.

20:18
Ross Miller went into a hotel. Holmes’ probably would have been the first vineyards. George Kiems had a vineyard as did Arthur Kellman.

24:02
End (Tape 220/Side B) Part 1 of 1 Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

SubjectCoal mines and mining -- New South Wales -- Hunter ValleyWine and wine making -- New South Wales -- Hunter ValleyWineries -- New South Wales -- Hunter ValleyDrayton, Frederick John Charles, 1886-1983 Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

PersonJack Delaney Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

Depicts or Relates ToLen Drayton Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

Reg Drayton (-1994) - Drayton family history. Recorded 10 June 1983. Part 1/1. Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

Jock Drayton - Drayton family history. Recorded c. 1982. Part 1/1. Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

CreatorDrayton, Frederick John Charles, 1886-1983Delaney, Jack, 1919-2010CollectionVoices of the HunterDate Created11th April 1978Location^[1]England Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

^[2]Rothbury, NSW Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

^[3]Nulkaba, NSW Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

Identifier220B Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

Job Identifier220B

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