Heart & Soul

On Saturday 8th July, we celebrated a Long-Term Employees occasion with a cocktail/dinner party at The Park in Albert Park. These celebrations, in honour of staff who have worked for Bowens for 10 years or longer, began in the 1990’s when I thought more about the longevity of Bowens and just how we had survived for over 100 years (1994 being our 100th).

Of course it was about people, and while the life blood of our organisation is about the young men and women in our workforce, the stability, the heart and soul of Bowens, is all about those wonderful individuals who decided to stay the distance of 10, 20, 30 years and beyond.

Bowen & Pomeroy Pty Ltd is a 130-year-old company that employs a total of 1300 men and women of whom some 284 have recorded 10 years and more with us.  

My brother David and I, plus my sons John and Andy are proud, thankful, and honoured that so many people have been prepared to secure their careers with Bowens in this current period, but also those who were the heart and soul of the company through those first 100 years.

Bowen & Pomeroy Pty Ltd was formed in 1894 through the partnership of my grandfather Richard Bowen and his brother-in-law, Redmond Pomeroy.

“Bowen & Pomeroy Pty Ltd was formed in 1894 through the partnership of my grandfather Richard Bowen and his brother-in-law, Redmond Pomeroy.”

Today there are two divisions that make up the Company … Bowens the Builders Choice and Timbertruss. Timbertruss is based in Corio, Victoria and Brisbane (Queensland) and is Australia’s leading timber prefabrication business. Timbertruss was an existing and successful prefab operation that John Bowen purchased in 2011. While 109 Timbertruss staff have given 10 years’ service now to Bowen & Pomeroy Pty Ltd unfortunately circumstances prevented them being included in our recent Long 2 Termer Employees celebration. This will be rectified when we meet again in 2025.

Our Bowens the Builders Choice division employs a total of 780 men and women with 175 having worked 10+ years. The break down is 46 at 10 years, 23 at 20 years, 11 at 25 years, 8 at 30 years, 6 at 35 years, 3 at 40 years, 2 at 45 years and 2 at 60 years.

“Our Bowens the Builders Choice division employs a total of 780 men and women with 175 having worked 10+ years.”

On 8th July, 180 Long Term staff and partners were able to participate in a night of speeches, presentations, stories and a general recognition of a wonderful group of people. (Another bonus on the night was the entertainment from ‘our’ rock band, Nobody’s Business – with Finance Manager Tanya Hardidge, as their lead singer, Rowville’s James Kirk on drums and Danny Pavlovic from our Pakenham branch on guitar.)

‘Having Fun’ is one of the company’s values together with the family’s wish to create an environment in our workplace that is safe, supportive and enjoyable. Again, our ‘younger’ staff provide the new and exciting while our ‘older’ staff the stability and the steadiness of experience. The ever-increasing challenges from a changing social and business environment require both management and staff to continually re-appraise and reinvent themselves.

“‘Having Fun’ is one of the company’s values together with the family’s wish to create an environment in our workplace that is safe, supportive and enjoyable.”

One of the highlights from the 8th July function was the recognition of Jeff Harvey as he/we celebrated his 62nd year with Bowens. Jeff and I started at Bowens within two years of each other. Jeff had applied for and was accepted into the Bowens ‘Cadetship’ Program, a four-year exercise whereby a ‘Cadet’ would work six months alternatively in the office, in the timber yards and timber seasoning yard – learning a different set of tasks during each placement. In order to encourage cadets to stay with the course, a special bonus of ten shillings ($1.00) was set aside each week with the accumulated amount not payable until the completion of the full four-year program! (Wow – so generous!!) Jeff, myself, Jon Fewster and Steve Manion were graduates of the Cadet Training Program.

Jeff Harvey (left) and Jack Bowen (right).

Jeff Harvey continues to apply the knowledge he gained then and over the 60 years as a Branch Manager, Truss Plant Manager, Timber Buyer and our Timber Expert. A beautiful man who epitomises all the values that Bowens stands for. I told Jeff 10 years ago he had a job for life at Bowens – 62 years, and still going strong, proves he took my offer seriously!

“Jeff Harvey continues to apply the knowledge he gained then and over the 60 years as a Branch Manager, Truss Plant Manager, Timber Buyer and our Timber Expert.”