Towards the end of the 1960 year, my Secondary Schooling education was ending, with the focus shifting to future work. I was 17 years of age and had completed 5 years at the Launceston Technical High School/Queechy High School, where I had attended academic subjects plus a required technical subject, which for me was metal work, fitting and turning, forging and welding, and sheet metal work.
My work experience was mainly farming on the family mixed farm at Bishopsbourne, and it was my plan to follow this occupation, which almost all my forebears had followed for generations past. However, Dad held the view that it would be better to gain some experience off the farm, before taking up farming.
The school, wanting to help students find work, participated in the “Careers Week” program, where students would visit three workplaces of their choosing to get a view of their operations. One of my visits was to the Forestry Commission, who soon after wrote offering me a work experience position in the Mersey Valley near Mole Creek, Tasmania. The letter advised a start date of 3 January 1961, and I could be picked up at Carrick. I decided not to take up the offer.
Also, towards the end of the school year, headmaster Frank O’Shannessey called me to his office and spent an hour and 10 minutes trying to persuade me to take up teaching as a career. He possibly had observed me teaching Air Cadets and thought I could be suitable as a teacher. However, by this time, I had become tired of studying and said that I did not want a job that periodically involved moving house. Little did I know that eventually, as a banker, I would move house on nine occasions over 36 years.
Banking Work
One morning in early January 1961, Dad, while reading the newspaper, found an ad by the English, Scottish and Australian Bank seeking staff and, on visiting the Bank, enquired about the possibility of a position for me. They said, “send him in” and soon after I visited the 63 St. John Street, Launceston branch for an interview. A further interview and medical check in Hobart followed and on passing was accepted onto staff, with starting date 16 January 1961.
However, around this time, I received a summons to attend court as a witness in a murder trial scheduled in the week of starting work and had to request leave before starting work. The problem was solved by extending the work starting date by a week till 23 January.
Following is a record of my work from January 1961 till my retirement in January 1997.
Date: 1961 January
Position: General Clerk – “Rems”, Ledgers, Teller
Locality: 63 St. John St., Launceston
“Rems” related to sorting and forwarding of other branch cheques to the domiciled branch for processing.
“Ledgers” the area where this branch cheques were prepared for posting
“Telling” I commenced as a part-time teller in June 1962.
Date: 1963 January
Position: Teller/Second Officer
Locality: Rosebery, West Coast, Tasmania
I travelled to Rosebery at the beginning of January, working there for 10 months. It was 200 miles from Launceston, with travel mostly over gravel and winding roads and, at times in winter, not passable due to snow and ice. Average travel time was between four and a half to six hours each way. Also, the climate was notorious, with rainfall of 80 to 120 inches a year falling throughout the year, limiting sunshine to 16 days during the year. Living costs were high.
The locality had a poor reputation among telling staff with a number on being appointed, resigning in preference to going there.
It was a busy branch of the Bank serving the mine operators, the E.Z. Co. The miner’s fortnightly payroll was around £30,000 plus bonuses mid-year around one and a half times the fortnightly pay, with a December bonuses four times the fortnightly pay.
My time there was enjoyable.
Date: 1963 November
Position: Bill Clerk Assistant
Locality: 63 St. John Street, Launceston
Here, we were occupied with mostly overseas transactions, both inward and outward, conversion of inwardcoming money and paying amounts due in foreign currency by draft or mail transfer. The Department was also responsible for the storing and issue of cheque books.
Date: 1964 May
Position: Teller/Second Officer
Locality: 144 Charles Street, Launceston
I arrived at the Branch on the 19 May, my 21st birthday. Besides a busy counter we also serviced an import Company who made purchases in numerous countries. We also assisted with documentation for an exporter of frozen lamb meat to England.
Another activity was the processing of Esanda paper, hire purchase and leasing contracts and bailment for a tractor business.
While working at the Charles Street branch, decimal currency was introduced in Australia, on 14 February 1966. As part of the changeover, a large quantity of the new notes were received at the Branch some weeks beforehand. Numerous people called to change currency and it was obvious that some of the notes had been long held, some with a musty smell, and some notes having serial numbers from years earlier. Most of the people calling were unknown. No questions were asked.
Date: 1970 April
Position: Head Ledger Keeper
Locality: 63 St. John Street, Launceston
A busy position with three ledger sets. Included was an activity known as “Refs”, which was the referral to the Manager of accounts that were out of order, either by excess or expired limits. As part of the review, the manager would request details of drawings, security and other funds held. The referrals could take several hours to complete.
The first of October is well remembered as the merger day of the ANZ and ES&A Banks forming the ANZ Banking Group. A change of systems occurred, mostly moving to the former ANZ systems. Also, on the day the Kings Meadows Branch came into existence, it previously operating as an agency.
Date: 1970 November
Position: Accountant
Location: Ulverstone
At 28 years of age, I was appointed accountant at the former E.S. & A branch. The manager was Noel Beswick who I had previously worked with at Rosebery. With him being a good business developer, the Branch was rapidly growing and I learned much about growing business. It was here that I commenced lending. I relieved as Manager on occasions. My stay at Ulverstone was short-lived due to the decision to merge the two ANZ Branches in the town.
Date: 1972 August
Position: Accountant at Ex ANZ Branch
Location: Burnie
The Manager was Jim Green, with both of us being Ex-ES&A staff, it was a cause of some suspicion, as up to merger time the banks had been in competition.
While living at Burnie, son Philip, aged 5½ years, was struck down with meningitis and was left profoundly deaf. With a need for assistance for Philip, a request was made to be transferred to Hobart to enable him to attend the school for the deaf, Lady Rowallan House in Campbell Street, Hobart.
The Bank agreed and transferred me to Bellerive.
Date: 1973 July
Position: Accountant
Location: Bellerive
A very busy Branch with an attached sub-branch at Lindisfarne, also conducting a savings bank agency at the Rosny Police Academy. Besides general office supervision, other duties were the processing of Esanda items including hirer purchase contracts and keeping track of motor vehicles subject to bailment.
I also assisted the Manager with lending applications from interview to draw down. Relieved the manager for several months while he was absent sick.
Date: 1974 April
Position: Senior Clerk, Dept of Accounting & Control, Tasmanian Administration
Location: Hobart
Duties included costing and budgeting, and estimates of profit for the Bank in Tasmania, also investigation and recovery action for non-lending customer related losses, frauds and forgeries, and State audit control of branches, including the oversight of corrective action.
Date: 1975 November
Position: Internal Checking Officer
Location: 103 Macquarie Street, Hobart
During my seven months at the branch, relieved as Head Ledger Keeper for most of the period, the incumbered being away on sick leave. With six ledger sets to supervise, it was a busy position. At times I was called upon to provide lunchtime relief at the nearby agency in Macquarie Street.
Date: 1976 June
Position: Accountant
Location: Deloraine Branch
For family needs, I requested a transfer to the Launceston area and was appointed accountant at our Deloraine Branch, remaining there till December 1978. The Branch served a large and financially well-off rural area with an agency at Mole Creek which was attended weekly. Although not on my list of duties, was regularly involved with lending.
Relieved the Manager when he was absent.
Date: 1976 August/September
Position: Relieving Manager
Location: Savage River
Relieved at Savage River Branch for seven weeks following the death by suicide of the permanent manager. I was offered the position of manager but declined.
Date: 1978 December
Position: Accountant
Location: 63 St. John Street, Launceston
In December 1978 was transferred to our main Launceston Branch. Duties included the supervision of the ground floor and basement staff covering cash and telling, ledgers, international department, Launceston messengers and driver, the agencies at Mowbray, Inveresk and Wellington Street. Around 30 staff were under my supervision. The position was very demanding and would remain there for four years.
Date: 1982 October
Position: Assistant Manager
Location: Burnie Branch
By this time the E.S. & A./ANZ Branches had been merged, making a large branch. The Branch had been in decline and a decision was made to change the management team, with the overall manager and I arriving around the same time. The instruction from the State Manager was “make the Branch grow”. During the time, the manager became ill with cancer and eventually died with a new manager appointed. We were successful in growing the Branch, recording large gains in lending, deposits, insurance writings and additional customers.
Date: 1986 April
Position: Manager
Location: Latrobe Branch
In April, I was appointed as Manager at Latrobe and remained there for six and a half years. It was a well to do farming area, had a large hospital and food processing establishments. I assisted with the establishment of a number of new business enterprises. During my tenure the branch profit went up by three times, deposits doubled, lending more than doubled with a net gain of 226 customers. On a percentage basis, it was the fastest growing ANZ branch in Tasmania
Date: 1992 October
Position: Lending Manager
Location: 63 St. John Street, Launceston
My position was a Category B Manager in charge of a fairly heavy lending set. The accounts covered a wide range of businesses.
Date: 1994 May
Position: Relieving Manager
Location: Northern Tasmania
Relieved Managers at all six Launceston branches and the surrounding country branches at George Town, Longford and Deloraine.
Date: 1997 January
Position: Retirement
On being offered a redundancy package, accepted and retired from the bank.
Written by Ivan Badcock – 28 August 2024