Trevor Williams - Nelson House 1954 – 1957

At the age of 19, I saw the troubles rising, mainly then in Notting Hill and saw that Australia was looking for migrants. The Prime Minister at the time, Sir Robert Menzies, had the White Australia Policy in place for European migrants only.  At a cost of ten quid, a 28 day voyage, three meals a day on the P.O. Himalaya - what a start to a new way of life.

After working in the automotive industry, I progressed to manage four of the Goodyear Tyre & Rubber Stores in Sydney, then went on to Yokohama Tyres. This was quite a turning point as I developed special skills working with the log truck industry and took on setting Rally cars up on our product, then Production Touring cars, followed by the Improved Production Tourers. Quite a challenge but most rewarding.

A phone call one Friday came out of the blue offering the job of State of New South Wales Sales Manager with a package I could not ignore ending up with 16 years servicing the tyre and wheel industry. Imagine if you will a territory of 800,642 square kilometres (Great Britain is 229,899) and seven million people. Regrettably, health took its toll, first blood pressure then prostate cancer - it was time to call it quits.

Over the years, I had spent 14 with the Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade, an instructor/examiner for the Advanced Motorist Chapter and President to the Road Safety Council.  Motor sport was the big love, both as a competitor and organiser over 26 years. Former pupils David Dunkerley in Canberra, Lyn Stewart in the Hunter Valley and Richard Foster at Noosa are in regular contact.

Now my wife Rosemary and I are retired at Coffs Harbour, which is half way between Sydney and Brisbane, by the ocean and with the mountains to the west. We are both active in lawn bowls, but still travel a great deal having visited fifty countries. What else? International cuisine and Australian wines - enough said.

Regards to all,

Trevor Williams

January 2012