By CASEY NEILL
BRING home the bacon.
That’s the call from Ron Chivers, who’s urging former Dandenong Ham and Bacon employees to help document the factory’s 70-year history.
He’s organised a reunion at the Dandenong Worker’s Club for noon on Sunday 16 February.
“Ever since we got the heave-ho, nearly every two years – as close to Valentine’s Day as I could get it because I love them all – I used to stick one on,” he said.
This time it’s been a little longer between get-togethers, and Mr Chivers said this was likely the last.
“And the main topic of conversation at this is to form some sort of committee, because I really would like to get a working story of the bacon factory to give to the historical society,” he said.
Mr Chivers started his time at Dandy Bacon as a maintenance carpenter in 1970.
Operations had started at the building about 1912 and there’d been “so many extensions and additions” since.
After some hard work “it looked all Mickey Mouse and spic and span” and his attention turned to a new role as social club president.
“All these people came into my life,” he said.
“Before I realised it, the social club took me over. I forgot about work!”
Sandy Riley is helping Mr Chivers organise the event, alongside John Roberts. She worked at Dandy Bacon between 1976 and 1979.
“The most amazing memory that I have of the bacon factory is doing overtime in the mornings on the weekend,” she said.
“The big bosses weren’t there and the guys used to cook up all of this bacon and little chipolatas and there’d be a bucket that came around.
“We’d just dive our hand in and take some food out.”
Mr Chivers is hoping about 70 people will turn out for the event and encouraged former colleagues to call him on 9792 4618 to get involved.
