Part 3 of Brett McMahon’s speech at the Bundaberg Rum 1961 release.
As well as maintaining an innovative approach to marketing and maintaining its leadership
as Australia’s most successful spirit brand, one of the many things the Bundaberg
Distilling Company can be proud of is the quality of its product. I worked in the
bond store and on the bottling line in my younger years, and one of my favourite
memories is of the group of people who worked on the bottling line. They took great
pride in producing the best quality product they could, and I am glad to be able
to say that Bundaberg Rum retains an enviable reputation for product quality and
consistency.
The 50 year history of Bundaberg Rum we are celebrating today is a good one that
gives me pride in its contribution to our history as a nation. The brand has always
been at the forefront of marketing innovation and support for sports and the value
of team work. The people who have worked on the bottling line over the years have
taken great pride in their product, and it has been both a part of our nation’s history
and a significant contributor to a part of its preservation.
Thank you for giving me an opportunity to recount my father’s contribution to one
of Australia’s longest lasting and most iconic brands, and celebrate its fiftieth
anniversary. If you would, next time you raise a glass of Bundy, remember that Sam
McMahon, the man who developed Australia’s leading spirit brand, left us with a glass
of “Famous Bundaberg Rum” in his hand.
Cheers.
This is a photograph of the actual Bentley Sam used and the old Studebaker farm truck
"Stude II" on the McMahon property at Cullen Bullen in NSW. Many thanks go to Sam's
son, Brett, for the image of this remarkable piece of Bundy history.
