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.

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. 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.

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.

“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.” “I prefer the fencing side over the Hort side, 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 going to work, it’s easier being able to talk 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.

“Willy and I share a bunch of similar interests. We get on and it helps with going to work, it’s easier being able to talk with someone about the job

Willy Jenkins (L) and Murray Graham enjoy a great working relationship

With 9 dogs at one stage while Willy employed his farming job it was time for a change and to emerge from his localized environment. He had enjoyed fencing on the farm and had competed in a couple of fencing competitions with his mate Craig Wade, which he enjoyed. Knowing Tony, he asked about work and his been with White Fencing for two years. While both occupations of farming and fencing are weather dependent, Willy finds fencing is about keeping things moving – time is money and fencing is more client dependent. The step into fencing as a specialty has earned Willys respect. “What we did on the farm at peak times is pretty much the type of production we do every day fencing,” says Willy. “Fencing’s hard work but I find it really rewarding, learning new things and how to do them right, picking up good systems and then working through them in different conditions and terrain,” he says. Fencing’s also allowed me to grow from my isolated bubble living my life in the Orere Valley and we travel up and down roads and into areas that I’ve never been, even though it might only be half an hour away. I’ve met some good people and enjoy working with the wider crew of Tom, the two Ian’s and Patrick. I tend to work mainly in the fencing but enjoy going across to the Hort side to help out.

Murray and I get on well, we share a bunch of similarities despite our age, its good having youth and vigor and someone attached to the rest of the world. He’s even enlightened me to “Netflix and chilling”.

Article provided by:

Debbie White White Fencing Ltd www.whitefencing.co.nz