FEATURE CAREERS AND TRAINING
Respect and friendship on the fenceline They say you can pick your friends, but not your family, which often rings true with your work mates. While many in the fencing industry share similar interests, having a work mate or crew that you get on with well, despite your backgrounds can make a huge impact on your job satisfaction and desire to turn up each day.
FEATURE
Therefore, as we all know it’s not just about having a good boss, good pay and good working conditions. From an employer’s point of view its satisfying when workers get on and are able to work, despite task allocation and ranking within the company, as equals in their respect for one another. Its also productive both mentally and on the bottom line. We have two such characters in one of our crews who are likely to cringe at this article, but the way they get on, have respect for each other despite their age difference and bring different life skills to the table is a huge asset to our company and their individual growth.
Murray Murray Graham was a 17-year-old school leaver with no real work experience when he joined our company. The son of a friend who partners with Tony in a 4-wheel drive competition truck, well that’s often not a good reference. Although tall and fit he looked like the wind might just get hold of him and give him a toss down a gully, but nowadays few would keep up with him. Murray is bright and had chosen subjects at school that were hands on – engineering, woodwork, outdoor education. With the School system advocating university Murray felt compelled to try looking for an outdoors hands on job, which is why fencing appealed to him.
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ISSUE 64 / MARCH 2022
Murray fits a fencer’s brief well – he’s into outdoor pursuits, hunting, fishing, rugby, has a number of 4-wheel drives, mainly Patrols but has recently picked up a Landcruiser, and don’t ask how many vintage chainsaws he has in his collection, some of which are stored under his bed.
“I prefer the fencing side over the Hort side,
When Murray started, we put him on the Stockade posting gun pretty much straight away, the gun nearly tipped him over but within 3-4 days he was away and as productive as any seasoned veteran with stapling. Murray has been with us 5 years and with his interest in machinery Tony has moved him onto the post driver, both tractor and remote skidsteer with Tony working on the steeper country with Murray.
going to work, it’s easier being able to talk
“I enjoy working with machinery and all the different locations and variety of where we work and what I do,” says Murray. “I did my Level 3 fencing course in my 3rd year and started competitions with Tom Dingle in my second year, both which has let me meet a bunch of new friends and I’ve met a bunch of good people through this job.”
though that does give me some broader work experience and opportunities to
expand my skill set. I’ve had some cool trips with Tony taking us to Stewart Island with John Noakes and fishing trips.
Willy and I share a bunch of similar
interests. We get on and it helps with
with someone about the job – a problem shared is a problem halved and with his
farming background he has some good ideas. He’s helped with relationship advice too,” says Murray.
Willy Willy Jenkins grew up and has worked in our local area with few previous
employers. Having left school, he worked a couple of years at a local tree Nursery and then 18 years for Cashmores Farm, a 3000 acre sheep and beef farm. Willy
and his wife Claire also leased 600 acres
of quite steep country and ran 800 ewes, 120 cows and replacements. They have two children, both attending the local primary school.
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