Personal recollections
Personal recollections have been sought from, or provided by, former members of the SA Department of Agriculture and collaborators.
Each recollection contains valuable and interesting information about the roles, responsibilities and achievements of the positions held by each person, the names of people they worked closely with and the industry groups serviced by the person.
Personal recollections serve a similar purpose to the Oral Histories and are a valuable contribution to the History of Agriculture in South Australia.
Please use the Contact Us navigation on the home page to make a personal contribution to this section.
Refer also to the collection of Oral Histories provided by prominent people in SA agriculture.
Brown, Andrew - Shearer training in SA
Andrew joined the Department in 1960 to improve the preparation of farm wool clips. This was done in collaboration with Bureau branches in delivering Sheering Shed Management Courses. In 1969 he was appointed the Sheep and Wool Extension Officer for the pastoral zone and in this role continued his interest in shearer training.
Andrew moved to TAFE in 1975 as a Rural Studies Lecturer to refresh and deliver the woolclassing course and retired in 1995. After his retirement Andrew undertook a number of reviews in relation to woolclassing training.
Read Andrew Brown's personal recollection.
Carr, Peter - The Journey
Peter completed an Agricultural Science degree and initially taught agricultural studies to senior secondary students at Loxton and Murray Bridge, before joining the Department of Agriculture in 1968.
Peter held positions as a Sheep and Wool Extension Officer in Adelaide, the Livestock Advisor at Jamestown and the Senior Livestock Officer at Struan before venturing into international work in Iraq between 1979 and 1984.
He held a number of senior agency policy positions, including Leader, Rural Affairs Unit, Principal Officer, Extension Management and leading the development of the GM Crop Management Act in 2004.
Peter retired in 2005.
Read Peter Carr's personal recollection.
Crawford, Dr Eric - Historical record of work
Eric held a number of positions in the Department of Agriculture between 1949 and 1989, commencing with his appointment to Kybybolite and transfer to Naracoorte shortly afterwards. He was involved in seed certification activities and pasture trials.
In 1953 Eric moved to Adelaide to work on cereal and pasture research for the mid and upper north region of SA. He quickly established himself in the emerging opportunities from the introduction and evaluation of new pasture species. He developed the Parafield Plant Introduction Centre to bring the wide range of genetic material into SA.
Due to Eric’s leadership SA is regarded as a leading centre for the Medicago species, globally.
Read Dr Eric Crawford's personal recollection.
Hagerstrom, Bob - An autographical account
Bob commenced his career with the Department of Agriculture in 1956 as a soil conservation and agronomy specialist based initially at Jamestown, then Cleve and Mt Gambier. He was appointed Senior District Officer and Agronomist based at Kingscote, Kangaroo Island in the mid 1980s.
He undertook a short appointment servicing the pastoral area of SA before retiring in 1993.
Read Bob Hagerstrom's personal recollection.
Heap, Dr Paul - The life of a Stock Inspector in the service of the stock industries of SA
Paul emigrated from England in 1948, undertook additional studies and joined the Animal Health Branch of the Department of Agriculture in 1956. He was initially appointed to the Keith Office, then moved to Cleve, Pt Augusta and Jamestown, providing stock inspection services to upper and far north areas of SA from the latter appointments.
In 1970 Paul was appointed to the position of Officer in Charge of the Northfield Pig Research Unit, and established this as a leading pig research facility in the country. He retired from this position in 1999.
Read Dr Paul Heap's personal recollection.
Lock, Bruce - Brief history of my time in the Department
Bruce joined the Department in 1945 in the administration support area of the Department. He was shortly moved to the records management role and then into the Accounts area.
In 1952 Bruce was appointed as head of the newly installed punch card operating system.
Read Bruce Lock's personal recollection.
Spurling, Dr Milton - Horticultural Research Officer
Milton was appointed as a Horticultural Research Officer in 1946 and oversaw the transfer of research activities from the Berri Experimental Orchard to the recently purchased Loxton Research Centre. His key role and interest were in irrigation system options, crop selection and planting and impact of frost.
In 1950 he was appointed Horticulturist at the Roseworthy Agricultural College for a four year period before returning to the Department to a state wide position in horticultural research and crop management.
Milton was appointed to the position of Senior Lecturer in Plant Science at Roseworthy in 1972 and held a number of senior positions there before retiring in the late 1980s.