John Oldham
OLDHAM, John Arrol, BE DipMgtStud FIEAust CPEng MIQ MRS (1928-2013)
John was born in Perth on August 25, 1928, the son of engineer, Ronald Arrol Valentine Oldham and his wife Dorothy Clara Oldham (nee Wheatley). He grew up with his parents in South Perth attending the Forrest Street Primary School. His secondary education was at Hale School from 1941 to 1945.
In 1946 he commenced an Engineering Degree at the University of Western Australia. He completed the five year course in 1951. During his studies he worked with John Dunstan and Son as a quarry master.
He married Jean Lydia Leake at St Mary’s Church, West Perth, on February 16, 1953. They had three children, Kerry Arrol, Kim Wendy and David Ronald Arrol.
Following graduation, John continued his work as a quarry master at John Dunstan and Son and completed a Diploma of Management Studies at Perth Technical College. He also studied Japanese at the Western Australian Institute of Technology and attended Imede, Lausanne, Switzerland, the International Institute for Management Development, for a course in international finance and business studies.
From 1963 to 1966, John was employed as Manager Projects Division at the Readymix Group (WA) involved with quarrying and concrete production. He also designed and undertook the purchase, installation and commissioning of an asphalt mixing plant and paving train.
In 1966, John joined engineering consulting firm Halpern Glick and Lewis as a Project Manager.
In 1967 Halpern Glick and Lewis were employed by Bunnings to work on a comprehensive plan for a woodchip industry centred on Manjimup. John Oldham led the group developing this plan. In 1969 WA Chip and Pulp Co was formed with John as its CEO.
John travelled extensively and sought advice worldwide. Special rail wagons were constructed to carry the woodchips to a deepened port at Bunbury.
The Diamond Chip Mill, 11 kilometres south of Manjimup was constructed with the largest chipper in Australia, driven by a 3,000 horsepower electric motor.
The first load of 38,000 tonnes of woodchips left Bunbury for Japan on the “Hokuetzu Venture” on May 6, 1976.
There was environmental opposition to the project culminating in Michael David Haabjoern and John Chester attempting to blow up the Bunbury Terminal, on July 19, 1976, damaging the stockpile reclaimer and its ring gear.
John worked as an engineering consultant and as a business CEO. He was Director of John Dunstan & Company, Terra Trading Company and Nhargo Pastoral Company. He was also a Director of Graincol Pty Ltd (WA), Bunnings Ltd, Bunnings Forest Products Ltd (WA), Bunnings Treefarms Pty Ltd (WA), Bunnings Tree Plantations Ltd and Prowood Pty Ltd.
John was the Chairman of the Forest Products Association of WA for six years and Director of the National Association of Forest Industries for eight years. He was a Member of the Board of the King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women.
On October 2, 1998, John was awarded the Commonwealth Forestry Association Medal of Excellence. This was the first medal to be awarded in Australia from this international association and was presented by the WA Governor Michael Jeffery at Government House, Perth. The citation for the medal recognised John’s role in establishing the woodchip and plantation timber industry in Western Australia.
John joined the Institution of Engineers, Australia in 1961 as a Member. He subsequently achieved Chartered Professional Engineer and Fellow status. He was also a Member of the Institute of Quarrying (England) and a Member of the Royal Society. He was a State representative in Hockey.
John died on May 21, 2013, aged 84 with his wife Jean having died 16 months earlier. He was survived by his three children.
References:
Margaret A Sacks, Editor, The WAY 79 Who is Who, Crawley Publishers, Nedlands, 1980.
Jenny Mills, The Timber People – A History of Bunnings Limited, Bunnings Limited, Perth, 1986.
West Australian, 17.2.1953, p. 16.
Commonwealth Forestry Association papers:
- John Oldham - Professional Resume
- John Oldham - Medal of Excellence Citation
- John Oldham - Medal Of Excellence Acceptance Speech
- John Oldham - Background to CV
- John Oldham - Addendum to Background to CV
[[Category:Manufacturing]
