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WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB?
Prominent Men's Modest Start in Life
Dr. Torr (formerly headmaster of Way College) started
life as a grocer boy at 7/6 a week.
Mr. E. H. Bakewell (President of the Employers' Federa
tion); used to be a clerk in the National Bank.
Mr. W. H. Bruce had no schooling. At eight years of age
he began woik on: his father's farm at Alford, near Kadina.
Mr. W. J. Hill (President of the Chamber of Commerce)
received t / n week in a solicitor's office.
Col. Vaughan, Manager Commonwealth Bank. Help
Col. Vaughan,
Manager Commonwealth Bank.
Col .Vaughan (manager of the Common
wealth Bank)--I have been in a bank all
iny life: I went.direct to the. old city
bank of Sydney as a clerk. Salaries weren't
too high,: but I had nothing to comiplain
about. I was well treated.
Prof. Darnley Naylor-I. had luck. T
left Cambridge . University anid -came
straight to Melbourne University as a
lecturer. But I had to'win scholarships
all the' way Ithrough to do it.
Mr. Phillip. H. Martin (proprietor of
Ihe firm of' Simes & M'artin, engineers,
Port Adelaide).-I lhave lived at the sea
port since I left .school. Although born
in the city,: I was- apprenticed to Mlr.
John Fletcher, of the Etna Iron Works,
and at 22 was shop foreman. In 1907,
with ?;Mr. Robert .Simes. I started busi
ness in a small way in Todd street, and
our fi.rst job was the machining of a
crank shaft for the steamer Warooka.
Larger contracts followed, including the
constrictionn of two hopper barges for the
&Govyer?,n ?t four large steel, oil tanks
Bie.ea , 'ad ,the :erection:: of 'steadl
smoke stacks at the Osborne power house.
John McKiell (Port Adelaide).-I started
work for '2/6 a week as an apprentice to
pattern making at Falkirk. Scotland. I
came to this State when a young man,
and in 1901. set up business on my oyn
account as maniufacturer of' flour-milling
machinery at Port Adelaide. Mine is the
only business of this kind in this State.
I employ 15 hands..
Mr. H.. E. Winterbottomi. (secretary of
Chamber of 'ianufactures 'and the Sol
diers' Fund)-Telephone ,night boy. I
started with the Adelaidg Steminitug Com
pany at Semaphore.. Theie used to be
calls at-all hours of the. night. I got about
10/ a week. I didn't.last long., I was
sacked aifter three weeks because I went
to sleep.
Mr. C. Hoilgrave (secretary of the State
Children's Council)-A clerk.
Mr. Hill, President Chamber of Commerce. Help
Mr. Hill,
President Chamber of Commerce.
Mr. W. J. Hill (president of the Cham
her of Commerce)-Working in : solici
tor's offtice for about three days for. 6/
a week. After that I spenit about' thiee
and a half days in. a warehouse for .which
I was to be paid liothiing:for' die .first six
months anid £5 after if I w?ere si'isfac
tory., However, I tiansferred to the firm
of J.- Darling &s Son.
Mr. C.. Cawthorne-?Torking for' the dad
in the shop. I have always, been .in the
same occupation.
Mr. T. B. Merry (secretary of the Re
turned Soldiers' Fathers'b Association)
An apprentice on theo barque--Carlisle,
which I joined at Liverpool at the. age of
16. Although I was the smallest:boy on
the ship I carried more dunnage than any
one other member of the crew, and my
mates reckoned I had enough clothes to do
all hands. I worked 12 hours a day and
was paid £6 a year. My father gave the
shipping company £50 to accept me as an
annren tice.
Mr. C. E. Goldsmith (manager of the
Savings Bank)-A junior,'in. the wholesale
warehouse of Donald Andrews & Sharland,
Adelaide.
Mr. F. A. Lakeman (a dir·ctor of James
Marshall & Co.)-]. started in London for
a big firm selling drapery. I shouldn't
care to state the salary, because it was
so small. I was an assistant.
Mr. Rodney Cockburn (deputy leader of
"Hansard") - Library boy at "The Regis-
ter" 32 years ago. It was a good start for
a journalistic training, and I was well paid
at 6/ a week.
Mr. E. M. Mathias (manager of A. Pen
gelley & Company)-Looking after a small
engine and boiler at 4/6 a week.
Mr. P. Lamphee (manager of the Eng
lish, Scottish, and Australian Bank, and
chairman of the Associated Banks of
South Australia)-Started with the bank
at Kapunda as a clerk, and have been in
ot .ot more than 40 years.
Dr. Torr (le. turer at. Brighton College)
--Grocer's boy. I started with Samuel
Drew & Co., at Burra; for,7/6 d week.
Senator. Benjamin Benny--I started out
on life in fairly good fashion. I began as
an articled 'clerk, and -have stuck to -the
caw ever since.
Mr. R. J. Champion (secretary of the
' delaide ,Hospital).-Cadet at the hospital
t nothing for six months. It will be 50
'ars next March since I entered it.
Superintendent J.; E. Dickie (lMetro
,litan Fire Brigade)-Went to -ea. What
il I get? Went-just for.the love' of it.
ly parents paid a premium, and I didn't
"vclI get that' back.
Mr. W. D.- Bruce .(Chief Inspector of
Fiisheries)-The- call of-the sea was in my
,blood. A fisherman's life apipealed. [My
li-st job as telegraph messenger. was short.
lived.
Miss Nellie Bramley- (Theatre Royal)
I paged Hanilet. The 'salary of 12/6 a week
was perhaps double, my worth.
Mr. "Paddy" McMahon-Iý.began sell
ing newspapers when I was a little chap
of eight. And now? Oh, there's "The
Judge," the control of from- 150 to 200
newsboys, a press agency- with:35 tele
lphones, and braiiches. in various subuirbs,
and three paperstalls. " The secret is stick
inr-to the job and not drinking or playing
billiards.
Mr. Bakewell, President Employers' Federation. Help
Mr. Bakewell,
President Employers' Federation.
Mr. E. W. Bakewell (president of the
Empiloyers' Federation and chairman of
the M?unicipal Tramways Trust)-As a
"clei'k in the National Bank.
Mr. W. T. McCoy, B.A. (Director of
Education)-As a. teacher in New South
Wales.
Mr. W. L. Stuart (Masteir of the Su
preme"Court)-])uring the last term of my
articles I was appointed associate to Mr.
Justice Bundey, succeeding Mr. Poole (now
Mr. Justice Poole) in that position. Sin
gularly enoughr Mr: Juistice Poole and I
were admitted to the Bar on the same d(lay.
Needless to say, with a man of such charm
and endearing personality as' Sir" Henry
B3undey, what more fitting prelude to a
career in the law could I have had?
Mr. W. Wright (Public 'Trustee)-- My
first job on the day. of my. arrival in Ade
'aide from Belfast was to balance the
'ooks of the old firm. of Townsend, Bot
ing & Co., auctioneers. After that I
rifted into the region of insolvency work
nd Public' Trustee.
Mr. O. H. Schomburgk (Sheriff)-I was
cadet in the Engineer-in-Chief's Depart
:nent in 1874. The first six months I got.
nothing, the.next year 10/, the next £1 a
week, another 1q2 months £1 a week, and
then a clerkship at £100 a year.
Mr. H. Tassie, M.L.C. (Mayor of Gle
nelg)-Although I had hopes of being a
lawyer, my first job was with «V.' and J.
Storrie, .warehousemen,, in 1878., First I
was general utility 'boy at a salary of 10/
a week, and was later transferred to the
office,. where I'. was sent. collecting ac
counts.
-Dr. Herbert "Basedow, M.A., B.Sc.
--I received 50/ ait ,eek 'as a member
of the Government North-West Expedition
under Mr. L. A. 'Wells. We were away
from civilisation for 10 months,' buit there
were many compensations.
Mr. F. Marlow: (secretary of.the South
Australian Football League)-As an office
boy- in a solicitor's 'office. I have been
always with: the :same' firm, although it
was under a different' name when I
staited.
Mr. Bruce, Merchant and farmer. Help
Mr. Bruce,
Merchant and farmer.
Mr. W. H. Bruce (merchant and far
nier)-lFarming at eight years of age for
my dad at Alford. I never had any
schoolinL and I can fell you that work
was pre~y hard at that age.
(The first article appeared on Saturday.)
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