Jos Kanters from The Netherlands is searching for a man he worked with in the early 1980s at the Seymour abattoir. This photo was taken in 1982.
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In 1982, a 21-year-old Jos Kanters arrived in Australia for the first time. More than four decades on, the Dutchman is searching for a former colleague and “good friend” from Seymour.
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For a year, Mr Kanters, who went by Justin during his time in the country, became a Seymour local.
Staying with his aunt and uncle, Mr Kanters spent his time in the region working at the Seymour abattoir, which is where he met Dave Hayne.
“He was the foreman, a colleague and a good friend,” Mr Kanters said.
Working at the abattoir wasn’t Mr Kanters’ first job in Seymour.
He initially worked for a construction company, which resulted in a six-week job at Home Pride Bakery.
“When I was finished (with the construction company) after a week, the owner of Home Pride Bakery asked if I wanted to work for him and I agreed,” he said.
“This was my second job. I had to do all sorts of things there, including painting, both indoors and outdoors.”
Then, Mr Kanters began working for a demolition company, where his job was to clean bricks.
“They paid me $30 to clean 1000 bricks,” he said.
“If you worked steadily, you could clean about 1100 bricks in a day.”
Finally, he started a position at the abattoir.
“I had to do all sorts of things (there). After a few months, they taught me how to kill sheep, and that is what I did, too,” he said.
“I worked there for quite a while, but I took a break to travel Australia.
“When I returned, I started working at the abattoir again.”
A photo of Dave Hayne taken in 1983.
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He said he enjoyed working there, building strong connections with his colleagues and gaining a unique insight into Australian culture.
“They were rough and rugged and they also taught me how to swear the Australian way, but they were nice people to work with,” Mr Kanters said.
“When I was saying goodbye there, they all took me along to the pub.”
Mr Kanters said he “had a wonderful time in Seymour”, and has since returned six times to visit his two cousins, Dot and Peter Kanters.
“(I enjoyed) the easygoing lifestyle, and friendly people asking how you are,” he said.
“Celebrating Christmas and New Year’s Eve in the summer and going to the drive-in cinema in my own car.
“The many barbecues with lamb chops, and hunting with friends.”
Last year, he visited the region again with his wife, Annette, to check in on his daughter, Anne, who was working as a chef at Trawool Estate for six months.
“When we were in Seymour last year, we tried to find Dave Hayne on Facebook but we did not succeed,” he said.
“My cousin and I went to the abattoir but it was closed.”
Now, Mr Kanters is calling on the community to help him reunite with his former colleague.
“I am looking for him because I would like to know where he ended up and how he is doing now,” Mr Kanters said.
“It would be nice to get back in touch with him so we can reminisce about good old memories.
“I would be grateful to the people who help me find the person I have not seen for over 40 years.”
Mr Kanters said he would also be keen to reunite with his other colleagues at the abattoir.
If anyone has information about Dave Hayne, or knows anyone who worked at the Seymour abattoir during the early 1980s, the Telegraph would be interested in speaking with you.
