And so we say goodbye to another part of history!

Brett and Co Pty Ltd established since 3rd October 1923

ON Friday my father and I spent time together for morning tea and a chat post our Mudgee road trip. He was understandably low as that morning in the wee hours his cousin William James Brett had died. We chatted about how he felt both about loosing Uncle Bill and also as the remaining pillar of that "reign" of the Brett's empire. He remembered many things of their childhood including the weekly trip dad would make up to the home of Bill where he would be offered a chocolate as a treat. The walk wasn't very far as they lived only a few blocks away and it was always great incentive to see his cousin each week. Dad sipped on his chocolaty cappuccino and a smile crossed his face. He then said that Uncle Bill was "his best friend", "Bill was my best man and I was his" "we shared all the work that went into Brett's and did everything together". 

Dad wasn't aware that his cousin was unwell till a week or so after Uncle Bill went to hospital, when my father discovered that his long time friend (and I expect mentor) was there he made it his duty to visit as often as possible which amazed me as Dad is still recovering from radiation himself. Today we saw the laying to rest of my uncle William (Bill) James Brett at the age of 89. He was part of the foundations of the empire of Brett and Co Pty Ltd taking on an executive role after the passing of the great James Fairlie Brett  in 1966. "JF" was referred to often in the family discussions, he was my great uncle and was the one who was most responsible for making the timber industry in Queensland what it was and is today.

Uncle Bill Brett with Wayne Goss at Brett's
Wharves

"JF" Brett, as he was known to friends and family, had a long and varied business career starting from the age of 10 years helping his builder and carpenter father after school and by the age of 13 was employed in a sawmill in Granville.


Never married nor siring children, "JF"'s legacy was passed down to his three nephews, Uncle Bill was Hardware Manager, James Brett  (Uncle Jim) Nutting  was Plywood manager and my dad William Gerald Nutting succeeded WS Brett as Sawmill Manager after serving as manager of the Windsor Joinery

All three of these amazing men had been groomed and nurtured for over 20 years to take on these roles and as from last Thursday when Uncle Bill passed away in hospital, my father holds the last of this first hand knowledge of a family company rich and full of history of not only the business but also of the changing landscape of Queensland and Australia.

 Many of these stories I have heard dad re-living to family members and friends most of these just distant memories for me now. When you are 12 years old there is not much interest in the events that occurred in the past with your "rellies" but as I have grown I have become intrigued by how three generations have managed to keep Brett's afloat. 

Dad bottom left and my brother Bill centre top. Uncle Bill bottom
right with his sons Ian and Bill above him.

The writing of this blog is all about my need to pass on some pretty interesting stuff, mostly it is only interesting to me but somewhere in my thoughts I believe that you may get a kick out of our past. I will try to keep it tidy but there is some nasty infighting that went on along the way which I think occurs when you have such a hefty lineage of head-strong personalities.