Mead in Poland which the 12th-century chronicler Gallus Anonymus described as "flowing with honey". This abundance of honey and a climate ill-suited for grape growing meant that mead was long more popular than wine. In 996, the Sephardi Jewish traveller Ibrahim ibn Yaqub wrote that "besides food, meat and land for ploughing, the country of Mieszko I abounds in mead, which is what the Slavic wines and intoxicating drinks are called". In the 15th century, the Venetian diplomat Ambrogio Contarini observed that "having no wine, [the Poles] make a certain drink out of honey, which intoxicates people much more than wine." The 16th-century
Tom Mead at which time Kevin Ryan led the return to Labor. Mead worked extensively as a journalist culminating with a position in the Federal Parliamentary Press Gallery for ten years. He worked as a special writer and music critic for "The Daily Telegraph" from 1952 until 1955 and became chief of staff from 1955 until 1961. Mead then moved into management role, working as managing editor of Suburban Publication Pty Limited from 1961 until 1965. From management he moved into owning and directing smaller Sydney newspapers, holding an interest in the "St George Daily Leader" and becoming director in 1968, and