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Vale Hammel Smith |
| Reginald John (Hammel) Smith spent most of his working life at the Northern Co-Operative Meat Company,starting as a young man before the mechanisation as we know it to-day existed. Being a labourer in the early years he eventually went on to become a skilled slaughterman on all species at the Abattoir including cattle, sheep, goats and pigs, eventually settling as a veal floor slaughterman up to the time of his retirement. Hammel was a keen tradesman, never settling for second best in the quality of his workmanship and over the years he represented his fellow workers on industrial matters in an industry well known for it’s ever-changing working conditions, always mindful of his fellow workers, but always ready to maintain fairness in the workplace. Hammel, along with other worker representatives, played a vital role with abattoir management in ensuring job security, whilst also ensuring Casino Meatworks was the ‘apple of the eye’ of the Australian Meat Processing Industry in the volatile years of the 1970’s and 80’s. Hammel was also in later years a member of the branch Committee of Management of the AMIEU, and a good friend to many. He will be sorely missed by many workmates both past and present.
Jimmy Bennett. Site Delegate Northern Co-Operative Meat Company Ltd |
