John Austwick: Tributes for dentist who founded Craigie Knowe Vineyard

“He was instrumental in pioneering the wine industry”: A dentist and community champion who pivoted to plant some of the East Coast’s first grapes has been remembered as a gentleman.

John Austwick, winemaker at Craigie Knowe. Picture: File

John Austwick is being remembered as a pioneer of Tasmania’s wine industry and highly skilled dental surgeon devoted to his patients.

He is also being lauded for his community work at Swansea including his efforts to get a Bendigo Bank in the town.

Dr Austwick, who died aged 86 last month, was born in Melbourne and as a teenager was considered one of the best high school footballers in Victoria.

He received letters from all of the VFL sides to play, except for Carlton but a knee injury ended his football career.

A devoted Collingwood supporter he was winning the tipping contest at the May Shaw nursing home, where he spent the last six months of his life.

Dr Graham Hall, a former president of the Australian Dental Association, said Dr Austwick, who had his own private dental practice, also helped the late Dr Eric Canning at the Royal Hobart Hospital.

“Eric was the only one working at the Royal so John offered to help out,” he said.

“They shared on call work 50-50 so he did an enormous amount of work after hours and well into the night putting people back together.

“He would often work all day and get called out in the middle of the night to repair the smashed faces of people who’d been in car accidents.

“He was a very capable surgeon, a lovely man and I learnt a lot from him.”

Dr Hall described his colleague as “down to earth with a good sense of humour”.

Julian Alcorso helped Dr Austwick plant grapes at Swansea and recalls he was regarded as a laughing stock.

“He was discouraged from planting a vineyard but he was a pioneer on the East Coast,” he said.

“He was a bit of a dreamer but he studied and read a lot.

“Some of his wines were exceptional.”

Bendigo Community Bank, from left Mike Cutlack, Pam van Duyn, Britt Steiner, Peter van Duyn and John Austwick

“It wasn’t always easy but he battled his way through and was philosophical if things didn’t work.

“I liked him a lot. He was wise, eager to learn and a perfectionist.”

In an interview, Dr Austwick said he had tried good French reds when he was working in London and described his growing style as “peasant like and hands on”.

Howard Edginton of The Glen vineyard said he was a “wonderful mentor” and generous with his time for everyone.

“He was told he was mad and not to plant grapes and look where we are now.”

Glen Travers, the owner of Craigie Knowe, where Dr Austwick planted his first grapes in 1979 described him as “a pioneer and true gentleman”.

“He was instrumental in pioneering the wine industry and also getting a branch of the Bendigo Bank, and John was a volunteer at Meals on Wheels until he couldn’t drive anymore.”

Eldest daughter Melissa Austwick said her father loved wine and took on the challenge to make his own style of Bordeaux wines.

“People used to ask Dad what his favourite was and he would answer, ‘the one that’s in my hand’.

“He didn’t like all the nonsense that he thought was written about wine.

“At the same time, he thought it essential to drink the great French Grand Cru wines. His view was, how could anyone make great wine if they didn’t know what the greats tasted like.”

Dr Austwick is survived by his three daughters and two grandsons.

Originally published as John Austwick: Tributes for dentist who founded Craigie Knowe Vineyard