R. M. Williams

Reginald Murray Williams AO, CMG, (May 24 1908-November 4 2003) was an Australian bushman and entrepreneur who rose from a swagman, to a millionaire widely known as just 'R.M.' He was born at Belalie North near Jamestown in the Mid North, 200 kilometres north of Adelaide, into a pioneering settler family working and training horses. R.M. had many adventures in Australia's rugged outback as a bushman, and became famous for creating a uniquely Australian style of bushwear recognized world wide. He was married twice, had ten children (one deceased), and left an enduring contribution to the Australian identity.

Personal life

At 10 years old, Williams' family moved to Adelaide so that he and his two sisters could attend school there. School did not agree with him and so, at 15, he packed his swag and left for the bush he loved. At 18 he started work as a camel driver and spent 3 years trekking through the Australian desert, living with aborigines and learning to survive the harsh conditions. During the great depression, with the lack of work, Williams returned to Adelaide where he met Thelma Ena Cummings [South Australian Marriages, Registrations 1917-1937; compiled by South Australian Genealogy & Heraldry Soc. Inc., published in Sep 2002 by SAGHS Inc. and Macbeath Genealogy Services Pty. Ltd. ISBN 0 947 158 96 0] . They married and returned to the bush, living off the land in the Flinders Ranges and had six children together. cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/btn/australians/rmwilliams.htm |title=R.M. Williams (1908-2003)|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|accessdate=2006-06-19|date=2003-11-05]

After his marriage broke down in the 1950s, Williams purchased 55 hectares of land at the rear of Yatala Labour Prison South Australia. He constructed a homestead, planted vineyards and thousands of roses, and ran rodeos on the floodplain of Dry Creek. [cite web| url=http://www.postcards.sa.com.au/features/dry_creek_lin_park.html| title=DRY CREEK - LINEAR PARK WALKLEY HEIGHTS|accessdate=2006-07-19|date=2006-05-22| publisher=Postcards SA] When the land was compulsory acquired during the time of former State Premier Sir Thomas Playford, Williams left South Australia for his "Rockbar" property in Queensland, vowing never to return. He re-married in 1955, had three more children, and died in his home on the Darling Downs in Queensland.

Bushwear

tarting out

Williams learned his leatherworking skills from a horseman called Dollar Mick, making bridles, pack saddles and riding boots boots. In 1932, with his son's illness and the expense of hospital treatment, he was in need of money and began selling his saddles to Sir Sidney Kidman (a wealthy pastoralist). Williams soon had a small factory running in his father's back shed in Adelaide that rapidly expanded. To address financial problems, Williams became involved with the successful gold mine, "Nobles Nob", near Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory.

Products

His most famous products were handcrafted (mostly elastic side) riding boots, with the unique feature of all being one piece of leather and stitched up the back. To this day, The R. M. Williams Company still makes their boots with 70 hand processes and a single piece of leather. The Cowley family are the major owners of R.M. Williams Ltd.

Some R. M. Williams products are now made in China, but this is only a limited selection, mostly t-shirts and caps. [cite web| url=http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_go1523/is_200211/ai_n7253186| title=AUSTRALIA'S RM WILLIAMS TO START MANUFACTURING PRODUCTS IN CHINA| publisher=Look Smart, Find articles| accessdate=2006-06-19|author=AsiaPulse News|month=November | year=2002] RM was father to 10 children. David is deceased.

Legacy

*The Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame. Originating as an idea by artist Hugh Sawrey, RM Wiliams was an original board member of this institution that was opened in Longreach Queensland, Australia., by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, on the 29th April, 1988.
*Founded the Australian Roughriders Association.
*Helped to form the Equestrian Federation of Australia (1951).
*Led a committee which initiated and planned the Bicentennial National Trail. [ [http://www.athra.com.au/Bicentennial_National_Trail_(BNT).aspx Bicentennial National Trail] ]

Published works

*cite book|last=Williams |first= R.M. |title= A song in the desert |id =ISBN 0-207-19832-2 |publisher=Angus & Robertson |year =1998 |location =Pymble, New South Wales
*cite book|last=Williams |first= R.M. |title= Beneath whose hand / the autobiography of R.M. Williams|coauthors =Ruhen, Olaf |id =ISBN 0-333-38087-8 |publisher=Pan Macmillan Australia |year =1984 |location =South Melbourne
*cite book|last=Williams |first= R.M. |title= The bushman's handcrafts |id =ISBN 0-9599299-0-8 |publisher=R.M. Williams Pty Ltd |year =1972 |location =Netley, South Australia

RM was father to 10 children. David is deceased.

References

External links

* [http://www.southaustralianhistory.com.au/rmwilliams.htm R M. Williams AO, CMG]
* [http://www.samuseum.australia.sa.com/aa623/index.html Online Guide to Records at the South Australian Museum Archives]
* [http://www.rmwilliams.com.au/ R. M. Williams Australia]
* [http://www.australianboot.com/ R. M. Williams Distributors in Canada]

ee also

*cite|author=ABC Audio|title= I Once Met a Man, R.M. Williams, 4 CD Set|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=2004