Vale – Quentin Bradfield

Quentin Bradfield passed away on 25th October 2018. He became a Member of the IBM Quarter Century Club in March 2002.  A ceremony to celebrate his life will be held at the Mission to Seafarers Victoria, 717 Flinders Street, Docklands on Thursday (November 1, 2018) at 11.00 am. No flowers by request – donations to Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia would be much appreciated. 

Memories of Quentin – contributed by his IBM friends Paul Clayton, Justin Murphy and Will Davis

Quentin Bradfield, better known to his many IBM colleagues as QB joined IBM in March 1977 and was a very likeable South African with a pleasant smile and engaging accent.  He soon became a team player at IBM, quick to welcome and assist others, and happy to receive assistance when needed.

Throughout his 35 years at IBM, QB’s flexibility enabled him to take on many roles, from ‘Office Products Customer Engineer’ to Management, Account Management & Administration Roles.  QB was always willing to help – at the great IBM Christmas Parties held at Luna Park, there was QB transporting Father Christmas in his MG sports car.

At weekends, Sue and QB often enjoyed early morning runs in the MG with Don & Greta Hayes in their MG. However, like most sports car enthusiasts, more time was spent procrastinating about his two MG’s than driving them.

Quentin’s well developed social skills were exercised regularly at Billy Bell’s South Melbourne tavern, (when we were located at Sturt St) after work, with many of his work colleagues. This was a great time to relax together and discuss their crazy customers!!

QB started his long IBM career fixing IBM golf-ball typewriters. His mechanical mastery and suave personality was perfectly matched to his assigned patch of sophisticated ‘marketing’ and ‘advertising agencies’ clients in Albert Park and South Melbourne…. he loved those dimly lit and smokey offices. IBM Management then leveraged his ‘Are You Being Served’ skills when they got QB to introduce Point of Sale terminals into Fletcher Jones men’s stores in the city and some large regional Victoria centres. He also led the IBM support for the POS revolution in retail at Coles Doncaster and Melbourne City stores. They were challenging and successful times for IBM,. Quentin’s cool professional nature, coupled with his technical skills, made him a standout performer of that era.

QB enjoyed flying model airplanes, and he did this with IBM colleagues Will Davis and Trevor Pugh. 
Quentin joined the GMAC (Greensborough Model Aircraft Club) in 2006 (approx) and remained a member for many years, actively supporting the club at working bee’s and annual show days. After learning to fly, he built and flew several types of remote control model planes at the GMAC flying field located at Yarrambat Park. His favourite model was a Great Plane’s ‘Spacewalker’ an advanced sports model which he built and expertly flew at the clubs field on his regular Sunday morning visits. Quentin was a highly valued member of the GMAC and will be sadly missed by his many friends at the club.

Amidst his busy working career, fatherly responsibilities and hobbies, QB managed to renovate and extend his home in leafy Glen Iris. Not surprisingly he was hands-on with all aspects of the project such as roof tiling, plumbing and painting those lovely weatherboards. All challenges of the projects were met with his typical good nature and can do attitude.

QB loved an adventure. He particularly enjoyed retelling stories of two big family trips, to central Australia and a safari holiday in his homeland of South Africa.

In recent years, QB joined with various IBM groups for occasional lunches, his presence always welcome. He loved his mid-morning coffee chats at his local cafe, Bella Sistas. Was it the lovely waitress or the eccentric ‘Basil Faulty’ like boss (Pino) that kept him entertained??

QB will not be forgotten, he will always be remembered as a good friend, a gentleman with a pleasant smile and engaging accent.