By RUSSELL BENNETT
THE Dandy pig’s house was made of brick, but its true foundation was built around mateship, and community.
And on 16 February at the Dandenong Workers Club, more than 50 former Dandy Hams and Bacon employees came together to remember the good times, when – to them – the mateship of their colleagues made their jobs a highlight of each week.
The stories that filled the room brought life back to a company that was once one of the three titans of local industry, alongside Heinz and General Motors Holden.
Ron Chivers, now 84 years old, started at Dandy Bacon as a maintenance carpenter in 1970.
He was thrown in the deep end, having to learn on the job, but working in what he described as “a well-oiled organisation” and “a tight, professional ship” made his job so much easier.
He went on to become the company’s social club president and has organised reunions of former employees since.
Former Dandy sales manager Melville Wangman, 80, has suffered three strokes in the past 12 months. Though he struggles with names now, he still remembered every face in the room at the Workers Club.
He said his 12 years with the company – starting from when he drove delivery vans in 1968 – were “an absolute joy”.
“Everyone knew everyone else,” said Mr Wangman, a former butcher by trade.
“Everyone had mateship and support from each other and we all had an ingrained knowledge of the industry and what it was all about.”
The Robertson brothers – Chris, Stewart and Steve – are all former Dandy employees and each of them made the journey to the Workers Club for the reunion.
Chris was on the production line for nine years; Stewart in sales for four years; and Steve in accounts and in the office for 14 years – it was his first-ever job from 1974 to 1989.
“It was just fantastic to work there. We had to learn fast but we had great teachers along the way,” he said of the company that employed 350 locals at its peak.
“They taught me how to work.”
Prior to this month’s reunion, it had been while between drinks for these faithful Dandy employees and Mr Chivers doesn’t know if, or when, the next will take place.
He’s calling on as many former employees of the company as possible to help document the factory’s 70-year history, which he wants to see presented to the Dandenong Historical Society. To help out, call Mr Chivers on 9792 4618.
