As we head towards the celebrations of the Clarence Canegrowers Association 100 years this year, we reflect on what was happening a century ago.
A hundred years ago that great Lower Clarence figure Adam Albert had invented the cane derrick for loading cane onto the river punts for transport to the Harwood Mill. This invention was a huge labour-saving device as previously men had to carry the cane onto the punts across duckboards from the banks.
There are still a few around, and a replica in the roundabout in Maclean, signifying how important this invention was to the sugar industry.
Adam Albert and the Clarence River cane derrick
Adam Albert (1859 to 1940) was born on the Paterson River to German immigrant parents. He came with his family to the Clarence probably in the 1860s. The family settled first at Cowper moving to Tyndale around 1879. In 1884 be married Rachael Davis at Cowper. They had a family of four daughters and eight sons and continued to live on the Tyndale property all his life.
Albert was a self-taught blacksmith, wheelwright, and boat builder, and assisted farmers with machinery repairs. He was later a Trustee of the Brooms Head reserve and planted the Norfolk Island pine trees along the foreshore. He was active in a number of community organisations especially the Farmers and Settlers Association.
In 1913 it was reported that Albert had “erected a derrick for the purpose of lifting the cane off the trucks into the punt; this, if a success, will reduce much the labours of cane harvesting”. There may have been an earlier derrick design, but it was the system developed and refined by Albert which proliferated on the Clarence River.
With Albert’s plans and assistance, H Stewart and Clarrie Watson, Tyndale neighbours, erected another derrick, followed by Rod and Ken McDonald on their Woodford Park farm across the river in 1921.
By 1925 the Examiner’s South Arm correspondent wrote that “the majority of farmers have derricks erected”. Albert was supervising erection of the derricks “his services have been much sought after for several weeks past by farmers, who desire to have derricks erected for the present season”. The 1935 annual meeting of cane growers, resolved (moved RJ McDonald, seconded J Skinner): that this association places on record its high appreciation of the action of Mr Adam Albert, of Tyndale, in perfecting his device for loading cane onto punts, and in generously placing it at the disposal of cane growers, thus rendering invaluable services to the sugar industry.
McDonald said that the device could be used in most places, made the work much easier and more attractive for the men in the field, and saved farmers six pence per ton of cane loaded.
At Christmas 1935 a presentation of two easy chairs was made to Mr and Mrs Albert with brass plaques recognising their services to the sugar industry. Speaking again, McDonald described the derrick as “effective, cheap, durable, and fool-proof – anyone could work it”, and the early one erected for himself was still as good as ever, noting that the iron work was made by EG Grainger. He said Albert could have patented his design adding perhaps £1,000 to his annual income.
In responding Albert recounted the development of the derrick “which was certainly not successful at the first attempt”. He said the simple trip hook which allowed the load to be released into the punt by a knock from a stalk of cane had “required much thought”.
The Clarence and Richmond Examiner 4 November 1913, 2 June 1914, The Daily Examiner 12 June 1925, 15 March 1935, 27 December 1935, 20 May 1940, The Richmond River Herald 24 May 1940, Tyndale: Centenary of Education 1868-1968, Tyndale Public School, 1968.
Cane derricks – Albert’s and Connolly’s “patents”
It was recommended that canegrowers could with confidence and at little expense erect derricks locally made and known as Albert’s and Connolly’s “patents”. The first named is a derrick designated by Mr Albert, of Tyndale, which is in general use on the South Arm and on Palmers Channel and elsewhere. It is simple, inexpensive and efficient, and is suitable for positions where “one plank carry” operates.
The second plan was designed by Mr James Connolly, of Ilarwill, and is suitable for positions where more than “one plank carry” is in operation. As some pile-driving is necessary, the cost is somewhat greater than the first named, but it is still a good financial proposition for a canegrower to adopt.
Extract from a letter to the editor by Rod McDonald – The Daily Examiner 18 October 1924