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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-11-13 Daily Xml
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BECKWITH, MR R.

Mr VENNING (Schubert) (15:30): It gives me great sadness to inform the house of the passing of a great South Australian, Mr Ray Beckwith OAM, and I pay tribute to Mr Beckwith, one of the founding fathers of the Australian wine industry, who passed away at the age of 100 (almost 101) in the Barossa Valley on 7 November 2012.

Mr Beckwith will be remembered as Australia's greatest wine scientist, following his discovery in 1936 of how pH in wine could control bacterial growth and save wines from being ruined, therefore allowing our iconic wines to age. He first saw a pH meter at Adelaide University and persuaded Penfolds to buy one, the cost of which equalled 20 weeks of his salary. It was the first one to be used in any winery in Australia. Mr Beckwith's scientific work with wine, some 37 years of research and development at Penfolds, revolutionised the wine industry. Many of his discoveries have now become standard practice not just in Australia but internationally.

In 1931, Ray graduated from Roseworthy College with an honours diploma of agriculture. Then, in 1933, he undertook a cadetship at the university to study cultured yeasts. He commenced his employment with Penfolds as a winemaker in 1935—that is 10 years before I was born. Ray has been credited with enabling Max Schubert, a chief winemaker at Penfolds, to create the now famous Grange Hermitage. The difference between the 1953 and the 1954 Grange is proof positive of the Beckwith influence: the 1953 is undrinkable, the 1954, which I and many of my colleagues in this house tried in this house four years ago, is absolutely superb.

Ray was awarded an honorary doctorate from Adelaide University in 2004 in recognition of his contribution to the wine industry. He was awarded the Maurice O'Shea Award in 2006 and the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2008; he was also made a Baron of the Barossa. He was a highly respected quiet achiever who devoted his whole working life to the wine industry. He was extremely humble about his achievements. In 2008, he said the following about the recognition and the awards that were bestowed on him:

All these things have come only after the last few years. It's a good thing I didn't conk out earlier, otherwise I wouldn't have known.

That was Ray. Ray will go down in history as a true Barossa legend. He was a proud member of the Barons of the Barossa, and I am pleased that there will be a gathering of barons this Friday to pay tribute to his life and the great things he achieved. He will be greatly missed. His presence was always noted and appreciated. The wine industry is where it is today because of Mr Ray Beckwith OAM.

I stand here as the member for Schubert, the name honouring another iconic Barossa winemaker—yes, Max Schubert. Max Schubert and Ray Beckwith were friends and men before their time. They have left a wonderful legacy. No doubt, Ray and Max are together now, pondering what comes next for the wine industry. I acknowledge Ray's late wife, Carol, and pass on my sincere condolences to his family, son, Jim, grandchildren Samantha, Glen, Ian, Ross and Portia and great grandchildren, McKinnon and Ainsley. Ray has gone but his legendary work and his spirit will live long in the cellars of the Barossa. Ein Prosit; glory to Barossa.

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