Grayson, Hugh Alexander (1927 - 2001)

Hugh was born and educated in Melbourne. He studied chemistry at Melbourne Technical College and graduated with a fellowship diploma in 1946. His first position was investigating chemist in the control laboratory of Monsanto, Footscray, whence he moved to the plant that manufactured chlorine and phenol. After five years with Monsanto, in which time he was associated with development of processes for manufacture of chloromycetin and sulfa drugs, he joined a small pharmaceutical company for two years.

In 1953 Hugh joined Cuming Smith Mt Lyell Farmers Fertilisers and spent the next five years in WA in their Bassendean, Bunbury, Fremantle and Albany plants. Then back to Victoria as Production and Deputy Works Manager at the Commonwealth Fertilisers and Chemicals plant at Yarraville. In 1961 Imperial Chemical Industries of Australia and New Zealand (ICIANZ) took over and the plant underwent substantial modernisation, introducing high analysis and NPK fertilisers, a move in which Hugh played a substantial part.

Then came a defining career move to pigments, starting with Factory Manager of the ICIANZ Pigments Plants at Laverton, Victoria. At that time high level discussions began about combining ICIANZ and BASF pigment interests in Australia. Hugh was heavily involved, travelling overseas to BASF Ludwigshafen and ICI Blackley. Eventually Pigments Manufacturers of Australia Ltd (PMA) was formed in 1970, supplying pigments to both of the principals, with Hugh as General Manager. This often delicate and difficult situation, responsible to two traditionally rival internationals, was handled with such fairness, sensitivity, discretion and skill that BASF offered him the Deputy Managing Director and Technical Manager position in the Australian subsidiary, BAL, in April 1980. The Ludwigshafen people through mispronunciation initially called him ‘Huge’. He certainly was; not that his physical size was extraordinary, more that his personality could fill the room with infectious exuberance, geniality and forthrightness.

It was a difficult time, but restructuring led to a return to profitability and he became Managing Director in 1981 and Chairman in 1982. In his 10 years in BAL up to his retirement in 1990, Engineering Plastics Division was established, the acquired Fritzsche, Dodge & Olcott flavours and fragrances was incorporated and the Noble Park site acquired for the head office and warehouses. The fact that operations which Hugh managed were always profitable would have helped reinforce their first impressions.Hugh was a people manager who not only encouraged and supported his staff, but also held a genuine interest in them. It was impressive to see him walk through plant, office or board room and address people by name, knowingly enquiring about their families.

Not surprisingly his personal qualities made him very successful as a Rover Scout leader and he received awards for contributions over 20 years. His main relaxation was sailing, being an active (Life) member of the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron and, in later years, the Metung Yacht Club. A great family man, he is survived by Norma and two sons.

By Douglas K. Grant, OAM, MRACI, David Bleazby and Peter R. Wilkinson, FRACI c2002; edited by AUSTEHC

Chronology

1949 - 1973	Associate of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute
1967 - 1968	President of the Society of Chemical Industry of Victoria
1974	Fellow of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (FRACI)
1975	President of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute, Victorian branch
1980 - 1981	President of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute
1985 - 1986	Chairman of the Australian Chemical Industry Council
1985 - 1989	Chairman of the Advisory Committee for the CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) Division of Chemicals and Polymers