Mead of the Bell Beaker Culture (c. 2800–1800 BCE). The earliest surviving description of mead is in the hymns of the "Rigveda", one of the sacred books of the historical Vedic religion and (later) Hinduism dated around 1700–1100 BC. During the Golden Age of ancient Greece, mead was said to be the preferred drink. Aristotle (384–322 BCE) discussed mead in his "Meteorologica" and elsewhere, while Pliny the Elder (23–79 CE) called mead "militites" in his "Naturalis Historia" and differentiated wine sweetened with honey or "honey-wine" from mead. The Hispanic-Roman naturalist Columella gave a recipe for mead in "De re rustica", about
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