THE BEGINNINGS OF A.P.M. AT MARYVALE
(J.W. Davidson)

Jack started his talk by telling us about an advertisement in the "'Traralgon Record", 7th December, 1917, requesting waste paper and advising that it would be collected. The price offered was $16.10 per ton.

He then went on to describe the slow stagnation of Traralgon and Morwell during the mid 1930s, and how, with the closing of the Refreshment Rooms at the Traralgon Railway Station, there was not much activity in the town. And so, in this depressed climate, rumours that something "big" was about to happen came as a breath of fresh air to the district. At first, the nature of the proposed industry was not clear- some thought it might be a large Dairy Factory, or something of that nature.

Finally, it became clear that a Paper Pulp Mill was in the offing but as yet the exact location was unknown. Sites suggested were Eden, Bunyip and Tyers. Tyers was the popular choice. It was said that the Plant would employ 1,000 men and £250,000 ($500,000) would be spent. To a district trying to pull itself out of the general Depression but slowly stagnating through a lack of industry, this news was like a tonic.

Eventually, the selected site was announced - not at Tyers but at Traralgon West, and not in the Shire of Traralgon but just over the boundary in the Shire of Morwell. However, the Traralgon Shire Council was quick to see that there were still likely to be great advantages to Traralgon and they soon set out to meet with the Management of A.P.M. Finally, on 14th December, 1936, the Wood Pulp Bill passed through State Parliament and rumour and conjecture became facts. Excitement was great throughout the area. The Bill enabled A.P.M. to draw wood from all areas north of the Latrobe River, excepting one area set aside for a future water catchment project. This apparently was to be the Moondarra Catchment Area.

Site works were begun in May 1937, starting with the building of the spur-line from the main railway line and the erection of the Pilot Mill. By the end of 1937, the Pilot Mill had commenced test running. Some of the men who had been working on farms in the area became the first employees; Mr. Lou. Campbell, who had worked for Mr. T.P.Lindsay, became Employee No. 1 on the payroll, Mr. Frank Healy was hired, with his tractor, to drive the air compressor. Mr.Cole and his bullock team worked on clearing and also on the spur line. Mr. Ron Fletcher ran the office , with Miss Chris. Bissett and Miss Grace Cave (later Mrs. Grace Youl) as his assistants.

When the Pilot Mill first started, none of the employees had ever worked in a pulp mill and therefore the late Mr. Bob Lee, who came from Canada, had to personally train each man in his job.

One of the more unpleasant jobs in the mill was operating the Lap machine. This machine, which still exists, was used to convert the washed pulp suspension into a sheet of pulp. The pulp suspension was pumped into a vat containing a drum covered with a fine wire mesh. The water was drained through this mesh, leaving the fibres suspended on the wire. A blanket-covered couch roll pressed an endless felt against the drum, thus transferring the fibre mat to the felt.
The felt then passed through two press rolls and the fibre mat was transferred to the upper roll where it built up in layers. When the layer was about half an inch think, it was cut off by the operator using a stick with a sharpened brass nail flattened like a screwdriver blade, at one end. The stick was passed quickly across the roll in one sharp movement.
The sheet then had to be folded and stacked before the next one built up. All this was done with the operator standing in wet pulp and water - consequently, rubber boots were a "must".

Jack mentioned that his first boss was a Mr. Ivan Rippon, who had Worked on the building of the new St Michael's Church, in 1936, and became the first foreman at the A.P.M. mill.

His second boss was Mr. Jim Hardisty, Muriel's father, who was in charge of construction at the Pump House. Jack stated that the operation from start to first run of the Pilot Mill was carried out in about six months - quite an achievement for those days.

On behalf of those present, Mrs. Trish Gregory suitably thanked Jack for his interesting talk.