Dr John William Dyer Middleton.Clarisa Collis and
Born: 1924.
Died: 27 June, 2006.
A MAKER of heavenly wines in Coldstream, Dr John William Dyer Middleton, cultivated a significant presence in the Australian wine industry that will continue to be mourned following his recent passing.
The fine wines of “Mount Mary” confirm expert wine-making techniques refined by Dr Middleton and his wife, Marli, over 50 years together. Widely recognised as an industry perfectionist, pioneer and mentor, Dr Middleton had enjoyed 82 years before he passed away on June 27 this year.
A doctor’s son, John topped his class at Royal Melbourne Hospital Medical School and practised medicine at Lilydale for 20 years, after serving as meteorologist in the Royal Australian Air Force throughout wartime.
Upon his retirement from medical practice in 1972, the local newspaper declared, “The end of an era” characterised by an “original-type of doctor” with an especially high code of ethics.
Dr Middleton’s son, veterinarian, David Middleton, said the family moved to Lilydale in 1954. His father was Medical Officer of Health not only for the Lilydale Shire but for parts of Eltham and Healesville shires as well.
One of his most enduring memories of his father, he said, was of him racing off, after hours, to deliver a baby or attend a car accident.
“He had this habit of jumping out of bed and pulling his clothes on over his pyjamas. He’d just peel the work clothes off and get back into bed when he got home,” he recalled.
Renowned winemaker, Colin Preece first urged Dr Middleton to establish a conventional vineyard after excitedly observing the favourable sugars and acids yielded by his 10 year-old garden vineyard in Lilydale.
According to Dr Middleton, meteorology and medicine went hand in hand with viticulture. He was a founding member of the Yarra Valley Wine Growers Association (YVWGA) in 1973.
His impassioned views on authentication, regional definition submissions and enduring opposition to the tax systems and levels imposed by government regularly enriched the wine industry.
Always abreast of new industry developments, he predicted grape variety trends and impending grape gluts with uncanny accuracy. Quality was paramount to Dr Middleton, who refused to expand his vineyard’s critical volume or introduce cellar door sales at the expense of quality.
While wine was an enduring passion, David Middleton, said his father had always enjoyed an active and full life. He enjoyed squash, fly fishing and clay target shooting, and was an avid bird watcher, naturalist, and an accomplished pianist.
In 1967 he won an award for his cider at the Lilydale Show. Signs of things to come!
When, two years ago he and David bought a plane, he realised a life-time love of flying and discovered another passion, aerial photography.
For those who knew Dr Middleton as a winemaker he will now remain reflected in his wines, imbued with “jolly good” character.
For family and friends, Dr Middleton will be remembered with love and admiration as a warm and generous husband, father, grandfather and friend.
His son-in-law, Peter Vickery spoke of his zest for life, sparkling intellect and idiosyncratic and sometimes abrasive independence of thought. He said above all he would be remembered as a kind and generous soul.
Dr David Middleton said his father’s biggest claims to fame were his generosity, his thirst for knowledge and his photographic memory.
Dr John Middleton is survived by his loving wife, Marli, son David, daughters Jill and Claire and grandchildren, Nick, Emma, Claire, Sam, Hugh, Tom, Anna, Laura, Ingrid and Sarah.
-Compiled by
Kath Gannaway
