The Fletcher Jones Stories From Our Community Project will begin on Wednesday with a morning tea at the Archie Graham centre.

Project coordinator Julie Eagles said the need to preserve stories from Fletcher Jones was evident.

“Fletcher Jones was a major employer but it was also in the way he ran the business with the staff the major share holders of the company,” she said.

“The way he set up the beautiful gardens, his philanthropy. All those things meant the story of Fletcher Jones ran very deep in the community.”

One story shared was from Tim Carlton who was a methods engineer at Fletcher Jones. Mr Carlton told how each year extra production was needed to fulfil the pre-Christmas orders for their trousers. 

“Some of you may recall the days of the massive queues that formed at the FJ Melbourne store to obtain a pair of Fletcher Jones Coverdine trousers,” he said.

“Well one idea to engender trouser production was to provide the staff with an unexpected gift. 

“One year Mr Jones went down to the local bank, in the days before decimal currency, and asked for hundreds of £1 notes. 

“Not used notes – they had to be crisp and brand new. 

“These were distributed at morning tea to the staff and the atmosphere was electric.” 

Mr Carlton said in November 1965 Fletcher Jones organised fresh Balfours buns from Adelaide to be delivered via aeroplane back to staff for morning tea in recognition of their hard work.

People who attend have been encouraged to bring a photo or an object from their story and catch up with former colleagues and friends.

It’s expected that once the stories are collected they will end up part of a display at the site with the potential in the future for a book. 

There will be a morning tea on Wednesday, August 26 at 10am and Wednesday, September 16 at 10am.

Anyone wanting to attend the morning teas needs to book via the Archie Graham Centre on 5559 4892.