Very good boy heads into retirement

One of the most popular characters in the Melbourne hospitality industry is heading into retirement.

Mr Walker, the canine ambassador the Park Hyatt Melbourne, is hanging up his collar after years of loyal service as a greeter and companion.

Mr. Walker, a nine-year-old Labrador, will step into retirement in line with expert recommendations that guide dogs retire at this age to enjoy a relaxed and happy life.

During his tenure, Mr Walker earned several Employee of the Month awards - a testament to his dedication and charm.

He has been an official ambassador for Guide Dogs Victoria, who trained him before his hotel stint.  

He will continue to serve on his current schedule - Monday to Friday 3:30-5pm until January 16 - offering guests and staff with an opportunity to spend time with him.

To honour Mr Walker's contributions, Park Hyatt Melbourne is sharing his story and celebrating his legacy online and across social networks in the days leading up to his retirement.

Guests, staff, and the community are encouraged to share their memories and moments with him using the hashtag #ThanksMrWalker

“Mr Walker has been more than just our ambassador; he's been a friend, a source of comfort, and a beacon of joy for countless guests and team members over the years” said Oliver Kahf, the hotel general manager.

“We are grateful for all the happiness he has brought to our hotel and look forward to seeing him enjoy his well-deserved retirement.”

Mr Walker will be replaced by Charlie, a playful six-year-old Labrador who will join as the resident dog ambassador from February 20.

For more info visit www.hyatt.com.

Rousing send-off for quiet achiever

Pioneering winemaker Julie Mortlock has been given a rousing send off. 

Mortlock has just retired after 35 years with the De Bortoli family at Bilbul in the Riverina, and has been in charge of making Australia's premier dessert wine, Noble One, for many years. 

The De Bortoli team described the departure of their senior executive winemaker as a "a sad but very special day". 

"After 35 years Julie has made the decision to retire and leaves behind a wonderful legacy that the De Bortoli family is so very proud of," the company said.

"She will forever be known as a wonderful role model for women in wine, a multiple award winner, and a humble and hard-working employee of De Bortoli Wines."

Last Friday night Mortlock was honoured with the 'Riverina Legend Award' at the Rivernina Winemakers Wine Show Awards. 

Mortlock grew up on a dairy farm and had ambitions to be a chef. Instead her passion for science kicked in and for the next 10 years she became a self-confessed “dairy lab rat”, a qualified tester of cream and milk.

She later became a lab assistant in the quality control labs at De Bortoli.

Mortlock later started working as a winemaker’s assistant (“doing the jobs they didn’t want to do,” she says) and began studying, firstly for a Bachelor degree in Wine Science and then another in Wine Business, both from Charles Sturt University.

Mortlock began looking after all the white wines produced at Bilbul, then moved onto the reds and fortified wines. 

Orange winemaker prepares to pull up stumps after 25 years

 

Gerald Naef, the transplanted Californian who has been making terrific wines in Orange for a quarter of a century, has revealed he is in the process of winding down his wine industry career.

With more travel on the agenda for Naef and his artist wife Anji, he describes himself as "nearing the home stretch" of a great career. 

Coming off a classic 2024 vintage in the Central West of NSW, Naef has not yet decided whether he will be making any more wine under their Patina label in the future.

"It’s been a great ride but I'm progressing to the next phase that will involve more traveling," he writes in his newsletter. 

Naef's career has taken him from study in the US, where he experimented with making wines as a young child, to cotton farming in Wee Waa, to crafting wines with impressive individuality in Orange, made from fruit grown in the foothills of Mount Canobolas. 

He started studying wine science at Charles Sturt University in 1999 and learned as his wine journey progressed. 

"I have enjoyed some great accolades along the way starting with my first-ever chardonnay winning a couple of trophies and recently being shortlisted for the Halliday Winemaker of the Year," he says.. 

"This last one really surprised me as I have remained a small producer making the style I like and not paying much attention to what is popular. But my biggest reward is to see the appreciation my wines have garnered from loyal followers." 

Naef, who is about to turn 69, added: "I started farming at 19...that’s long enough. Time to move on to the next phase. It's time to spend a little more time traveling."

Naef estimates he has enough wines in his warehouse to last a couple more years if sales figures remain stable. I suspect he might sell out sooner once news of his retirement gets around. He will be offering back vintages to Patina wine club members. 

"If wine sales continue at their current rate and I don't make more wine, I estimate that stocks will be gone in two years," he says. 

"I am surprised how well my wines age. I recently included some very old sauvignon blanc and rosé in some Mystery Dozens and have had requests for more."

As things wind down, the Patina cellar door will be closed over August and September while the Naefs go travelling. 

Having been lucky enough to try some of his earliest releases, I am a huge admirer of Naef's creativity. Looking back though my notes, it has been his chardonnays that I have enjoyed most over the years. 

See www.patinawines.com.au 

James Halliday announces his retirement

James Halliday AM, Australia's most influential and longest-serving wine writer, today announced his retirement.

Just a month after giving up his weekly column in The Australian newspaper, Halliday issued a statement saying that he will be stepping back from his wine writing and tasting commitments.

"As James steps into this new chapter, he will be using this time to compile a lifetime of wine memories – a project that we look forward to sharing," Wine Companion magazine announced.

"His contribution to the Australian wine landscape is unparalleled, and we would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge his monumental career."

.A co-founder of Brokenwood in the Hunter Valley and founder of Coldstream Hills in the Yarra Valley, Halliday is recognised as having been a major figure in the Australian wine industry for over four decades.

He worked as an author, critic, wine judge and business owner - and his ratings could make or break a wine producer.

“Late last year I made the decision that I was going to seriously cut back on my work commitments,” he said in a statement.

“Having turned 85 I wanted to fully focus on what I want to do, and that is writing about 50 years of great wine dinners I’ve attended or staged.

“This work has no deadline, has no space constraints, and is something that has been simmering in my mind and heart for the past half-decade as my ‘swansong’.

“Recent health issues have made me wish even more for this to have my sole attention.

“So, while my fondness for writing is undiminished, and with my family’s support, I will be quiet on the wine media front until I can share the birth of my last child.”

Halliday wrote his last column for The Weekend Australian on April 6, handing over to Nick Ryan and founded the Halliday Wine Magazine. His annual Halliday Wine Companion is the bible of the Australian wine industry.

Winemaker says farewell after 40 years

For 40 years Bill Sneddon has been one of the quiet achievers - and one of the good guys - in the wine industry.

Sneddon, a Cessnock native, has seen the Hunter Valley change beyond all recognition over those four decades.

He started working at Allandale winery in Lovedale - then a Hunter outpost - on November 4, 1983.

On November 4, 2023, that's today, Sneddon says farewell to Allandale, where he has been both chief winemaker and general manager.

He started under former owners Wally and Judy Atallah, who appointed him winemaker in 1986.

"The winery at the time was just five years old and to a large extent trying to find its feet and its place in the wine industry," he recalled in a Facebook post. "It was a fantastic opportunity to work in an industry that I had always found both interesting and hugely satisfying.

"Over that 40 years I have worked with some of the most wonderful people that I have ever met. The staff who I have shared the ups and downs with over the last 40 years, are to this day some of my closest friends."

Four decades that saw droughts, bushfires and floods.

Eight years ago Allandale was purchased by Michael Lee and Dominic Leung. Sneddon stayed on.

I saw him and his wife Sally - a talented graphic designer who has designed wine labels for many top Hunter wineries - a short while ago. He told me how he was transitioning to towards retirement, spending more of his time in the Hilltops region, where he has family ties.

"Interestingly after 40 years and having raised two children at Allandale I now find they are gravitating towards the [wine] industry," he said.

"It is certainly not an easy industry but it has been amazingly interesting and rewarding and so, in spite of my best efforts to persuade them to do other things, they have decided that wine and food are two of the most interesting ways to spend your days at work. I am especially grateful to have worked alongside them and with my wife Sally who was amazingly supportive, but also the real power behind the business.

"Her creativity, passion and commitment have been so pivotal that I honestly don’t think I could have done it without her."

Alex Woods is now the Allandale winemaker, supported by Jeremy Churchill. 

Under Sneddon's leadership Allandale has progressed from a wine production of 25 tonnes in 1978 to 350 tonnes - and maintained a reputation for reliably good wines across the board.

Sneddon - who was always a pleasure to deal with - departs with the long-mooted new cellar door at Allandale completed but not yet open.

Chairman Goyder heads for the exit door at Qantas

After overseeing declining standards of service and reputation, Qantas chair Richard Goyder is on the way out.

But did he jump, or was he pushed?

Goyder, a backer on controversial former CEO Alan Joyce at the Australian national carrier, last month dismissed calls to step down during grillings before the Australian Senate.

But this morning a Qantas press release announced his departure ahead of schedule. This followed the share price dropping over 25% in recent months. 

The release did not sound good for under-siege Goyder, saying: "The Qantas Board today announces plans for board renewal in recognition of the reputational issues facing the Group and to support restoration of trust in the company.

"Chairman Richard Goyder will retire prior to the Annual General Meeting (AGM) in late 2024."

It listed other changes, including non-executive director Michael L’Estrange, Jacqueline Hey and Maxine Brenner retiring in February 2024 after 10 years of service.

"As planned, three new directors will offer themselves for election at this year’s AGM (Doug Parker, Dr Heather Smith, and CEO and managing director Vanessa Hudson) as well as two existing directors (Todd Sampson and Belinda Hutchinson)." the statement said.

“As a Board, we acknowledge the significant reputational and customer service issues facing the Group and recognise that accountability is required to restore trust," Goyder said.

“Qantas has gone through an incredibly difficult period since our operation was grounded during the pandemic. The recovery has not been easy, and mistakes were made. We again apologise for those times where we got it wrong.

“I have always sought to act in the best interests of Qantas. Measured and orderly succession at board level will support the important work underway led by Vanessa and her new management team.

"Fundamentally, the Group is in a very strong position to overcome its current challenges and deliver for all its stakeholders in the years ahead.”

Goyder, who adopts a "superior", arrogant tone, also has chairman roles with the AFL and Woodside Energy.