Carl Ivar Kenneth Berglin was born in Cheam, Surrey, UK on 7 November, 1943. He was one of a family of five with an English mother and an Australian father. When he was four, the family migrated to Australia to live in Brisbane where his father lectured at Queensland University as a chemical engineer before joining the then infant Australian Atomic Energy Commission in 1954. This required a three-year move back to the UK.
So began a life back and forth between the two countries. Carl’s early schooling was in the UK before he attended Sutherland High School in NSW for his Intermediate Certificate and Port Hacking High School for his Leaving Certificate. He began his tertiary education at the University of NSW with a Bachelor of Science degree in metallurgy which resulted in a life-long interest in mineral processing, with his thesis through the School of Mining Engineering. He completed a Master of Science degree in mineral processing design, supported by BHP, at the University of London. These were the first of numerous qualifications Carl acquired in later years.
Similarly, Carl’s employment covered a broad spectrum. From 1973 to 1979, he worked for BHP’s Groote Eylandt Mining Co, first as operations superintendent and then as manager with overall control of operations. His affiliations and memberships included deputy chairman of the Northern Territory Industry Training Advisory Board, chairman of the NT Mining Advisory Committee, chairman of the NT Mining Board, a councillor of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, chairman of the Manganese Development Committee, president of the NT Chamber of Mines and chairman of the MN/6 Committee of the Standards Association of Australia.
In April 1995, he formed his own company, Berglin Consulting Services, which he maintained for the rest of his life. His experience and skills allowed him to cover preparation of small mine plans/proposals, liaision with government, safety courses, and extractive industry competence courses with Illawarra TAFE and the like.
Carl was never content to be just a member of any organisation in which he became involved and always maintained strong links with service to the community. He joined Lions International in 1974, becoming club president of the Groote Eylandt club, then district zone chairman and his Lions involvement continued at the Heathmont club in Melbourne as club president.
When the family moved to Illawarra, Carl joined Wollongong Rotary in 1998. The next five years were remarkable, for in that short space of time, he was twice named Rotarian of the Year and gained the Paul Harris Fellowship, the ultimate Rotary Award. Carl was the epitome of “Service above self”, the Rotary maxim. When the family relocated to the Southern Highlands, he joined the Bowral-Mittagong Rotary Club where he built up an enviable reputation as a function organiser.
The Institute of Quarrying gained Carl as a Fellow in 1979. He was chairman of the Northern Territory branch from 1993 to 1996 and convened the 1993 Darwin national conference. Carl did a huge amount of work in leading several national committees, particularly in areas of finance and education. He subsequently became an IQA vice president, a board member and a councillor.
In 1999, Carl received the Caterpillar Award for his long, dedicated service to the Institute and the quarrying industry. He went on to become the secretary/treasurer of the Australian Institute of Quarrying Education Foundation. His depth of industry experience has been invaluable to the Foundation and will be greatly missed.
Carl passed away on 29 March, 2011 after a long illness. He is survived by his wife Jan, and children Stephanie, Adrian, Peter and Sally and their families.
Carl loved his wine and it was fitting that the family hosted a celebration of his life at the Southern Highlands winery, which was attended by over 200 friends.
Our mate, Carl Berglin, was a man among men and he will be sorely missed, not only by the Institute and his beloved Rotary Clubs, but by all with whom he had contact.