Most people in this room tonight are hearing this gentleman’s name for the very first time, a legend of Australian Distilling.
As mentioned in Luke McCarthys presentation yesterday we have a fantastic Australian Distillery History, it is also important to acknowledge those who came before us as well as our current distillers.
Grahams introduction into the alcohol industry started like many before him in Queensland via working in a sugar mill, he started his first job at Bingera Sugar Mill just west of Bundaberg as a shift chemist. Graham stayed at Bingera Mill for around 12 months before taking permanent positions, again as a chemist, at both Wallaville and Qunaba sugar Mills based around the Bundaberg region. During this time he also continued to help work on the family cane farm before and after work and on the weekends.
In 1975, Graham came across a special place where he commenced a new job, or actually a journey, that would well and truly cement his identity in the Australian Alcohol Industry. This special place was none other than The Famous Bundaberg Rum Distillery. Graham spent 42 fulfilling years working there , it was quite obvious, that this was more than a job and the distillery became part of Graham. Long before the implementation of computer operated Distilleries, Graham held numerous different roles, ranging from Distiller, Fermentation operator , Laboratory technician, shift supervisor , production supervisor, process technician and a systems and technical officer, and did I mention Graham was also a key representative on the tasting panel.
Graham was proud to contribute to and be a part of many developments during his time at the distillery. With his greatest challenge of all, and consequently the biggest achievement, was when the distillery switched from a manual system to a computerised system. Graham marvelled as he witnessed momentous changes through this innovation to a computer-based operation. This revolutionary advancement was a significant task. Imagine one box, filled with reams and reams of paper that were covered in what looked like someone had hit every key on the keyboard - think pages and pages of coding - just to turn a single pump on.
Considering Graham never completed formal qualifications, his ability to initiate the foundations of such a masterful system was indicative of Graham’s genius. Working as a part of team to achieve a system so advanced, that a control room once full of people could be streamlined to one person running the show, was rewarding in so many ways. But by far, Graham’s most favourite part of his time at the distillery was working alongside every person in the team. Graham was known for his genuine care for every person at the distillery - regardless of what anybody did or didn’t do – and his consideration and respect remained the same for each and every valuable member of the team. He loved working with everyone at the distillery.
For the team on site the love for Graham was immense and if there was to be anyone know in the history of the company as Mr Bundaberg Rum it would be Mr Graham Golchert. I’d like to please welcome Grahams daughter Katrina to the stage accompanied by Bundaberg Rum brand manager Mr Duncan Littler.