I wondered at that time whether the young Ben ever envisaged that his skills would remain in demand at his ripe age of 83, living in the small NSW country town of Berrigan, after years of trying his hand at almost every vocation under the sun.
At the time, his family was involved in running a fish and chip shop in Northcote where the price of fish, such as flake, could be bought for one penny apiece.
At the age of 20, after completing two years in the trade, he became well versed on the practical side of boot-making, exhibiting excellent skills.
He soon married and had a daughter. The young family left for Kalgoorlie, where Ben was keen to secure well-paid work. However, it didn’t quite work out, and they returned to Melbourne to live with his family.
Besides driving taxis, Ben secured work with a boot repairer. He eventually went to work with Footrest Shoes, a popular brand, where he eventually managed a staff of 15, some of whom had worked in the factory for more than 20 years.
Always seeking ways to earn a good income, Ben bought a bulldozer in 1977 at a time when Hoddle St was being widened and operated a good business. He also purchased a house in Oakleigh.
Thinking back on his diverse working life, which incidentally included being a contract miner at Kalgoorlie, 2500ft underground, Ben always came back to his passion and skills as a bootmaker.
“We did what we did in those days and never regretted any of it,” Ben said. “It was tough at times and there were lots of bends in the road, but I survived and I am still here.”
The desire to have his own shoe repair business remained strong. In 1980, he purchased a small shop in Shepparton. Unfortunately, his second marriage, during which his son was born, did not survive the country move.
Yet, Ben worked hard to build up the business and became well recognised throughout the Goulburn Valley. This was particularly so when he became an accredited repairer for R.M. Williams and had the talent to bring an old pair of boots back to their original state. He would replace tugs, soles, heels, elastic sides, insoles, toes and could, in effect, refurbish the entire boot. He also repaired bags and overnighters, even an Akubra hat on one occasion.
Today he creates magnificent Italian leather belts with soft leather supplied by specialist leather merchants, Leffler Leather of Melbourne.
“I sold R.M. Williams boots and became an accredited repairer after Mr Williams visited me at my shop in Shepparton and began a long association. He was a great man and the boots were magnificent, beautifully made from the finest quality leather,” Ben said.
Several years later, Ben sold the business. After receiving a call from a long-time friend who had just moved to Berrigan, Ben made the decision that if he could find the right shop, he would move to Berrigan to enjoy a quieter life.
It proved to be a good move, and he has been kept as busy as he needs. His fame has spread widely throughout the region and interstate. This was evinced after speaking with Macca on ABC Radio one Sunday morning, when listeners far and wide heard that Ben would be willing to repair their much loved R.M. Williams boots and that they just needed to send them to him.
A listener that day from Tenterfield called the following Sunday to speak to Macca and several weeks later the lady and her husband arrived in Berrigan with two pairs of R.M. Williams boots needing repair.
“I love what I do and treat my customers with reverence and hopefully show confidence in my ability to bring their boots back to their former glory. It is possible to do this when they have been made with the finest quality leather by the best bootmaker in Australia,” Ben said.
“I am proud of the work I do and grateful to the people in Berrigan for their support. They have been wonderful to me since I moved to town!”
R.M. Williams
In 1932, while camping in the Flinders Ranges, Reginald Murray (R.M.) Williams created an elastic-sided boot to hold up against the rough terrain of the outback and long, exhausting rides on horseback. Each boot was created from one piece of leather and became a symbol of the Australian way of life and has evolved into a finely crafted boot of the utmost quality today. While relatively expensive at more than $700 a pair, they are made to last a lifetime. Little did Williams realise that the sturdy boot he designed and made would be the start of a worldwide, iconic label in demand around the world.
R.M. Williams gained his leather working skills from a stockman named Michael George Smith and rose through the ranks as a swagman to that of a millionaire.
His handmade boots were purchased courtesy of a thriving mail order business, and he later established a full factory in Adelaide. He was known to express his wholehearted belief that, “It’s the people who make our company!”
He also went on to create Chelsea boots for women and men, alongside a style of bush clothing which today has a huge following due to the quality and style.
R.M. Williams is iconic and sought-after by stockmen, graziers, Collins St farmers, lawyers, politicians and recognised identities. Williams was married twice and had 10 children before passing away at his home in Toowoomba, Queensland, in 2003, at the age of 95.
The business has now existed for 93 years and remains Australian-owned. Today there are 784 stockists of R.M. Williams boots and clothing in over 15 countries around the globe, with a fan base that is constantly developing.
