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As an electronics engineer in Melbourne during the 1950’s. I was employed by a major Australian manufacturer of radios and televisions It’s products were expanding rapidly so it was decided to open what was known as a pilot plant to prove the manufacturing and quality viability of new products before committing them to major production in the main plant.

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I was asked to manage this small factory of about 50 employees, consisting of production, quality control, and office staff. It was situated on the banks of the Yarra river which flowed through the city.

 

It was the HI Fi period and a group of Yugoslav men looked after the finishing of the very high-quality cabinets housing the amplifiers and loud speaker units.  When I arrived each morning, they would be assembled in their department prior to starting work. I got to know them very well and occasionally invited to their family gatherings. Dusan Ivezic who spearheaded the group and his brother Bart were my eyes and ears to what was happening in the factory behind my back.

 

Dusan was a small dapper man with a spring in his step, a Captain in the Yugoslav army during the war, sporting a military style moustache. Bart had no resemblance to his brother, a big heavy looking thick set of a man with a slow stumbling gait which matched his responses when communicating. Together they always reminded me of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito in the film Twins.

 

The production department was always pushing to get high quantities produced to get paid higher bonuses. concocting devious ways including threats of bodily harm to circumvent quality control. Harry the production foreman a most despicable character was the instigator.

 

Each evening I would wait until the factory was clear of staff before handing over to the night-watchman.

On this particular evening the Yugoslav’s were still gathered in their department. Dusan called out “go ahead Will we were just about to leave.”

In hindsight he knew something that I didn’t.

 

Once outside I was confronted by Harry and 3 or 4 of his henchmen. One of them proceeded to punch and kick me. Within seconds they were surrounded by the Yugoslav’s who pulled his assailant to the ground and started to give him some severe treatment. The others were pleading “let us go we had no idea it was going to be like this” The Yugoslav’s carried Harry to the edge of the river Yarra flowing some 50 feet below and dumped him there with a warning. “The next time you give Will any more trouble we’ll throw you over and it will look like an accident.”

 

From that day on, the factory environment improved dramatically.

 

I have been forever grateful to my Yugoslav friends. 

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