Rotary Pride of Workmanship awards

ZAIDA GLIBANOVIC

By ZAIDA GLIBANOVIC

TWO Traralgon Centre Plaza employees were awarded Rotary Pride of Workmanship Awards at the ceremony held at the Traralgon Golf Club recently.

The award is recognised for a job well done and their valuable contribution to the workplace.

Traralgon Baker’s Delight, Taelan Oliver-McGrath and Traralgon Centre Plaza security, Josh Henschel were both recognised for their hard work.

‘Pride of Workmanship’ is the sense of responsibility for a job well done and is still one of the greatest tangible assets in society according to the Rotary Club.

In drawing up the list of awardees, Traralgon Rotary Club asked local businesses to nominate those they employ who embody the concepts of pride in a job well done and, at times, well over and beyond the confines of their job description.

Taelan Oliver-Mcgrath, the retail manager at the Traralgon Baker’s Delight, was all smiles as he spoke to the Express about his award.

“It means a lot it’s a pretty big achievement, in my opinion, ‘pride in workmanship’, so I guess it means I’m doing a good job,” he said.

“Running all the front end of the house, making sure everyone is behaving themselves, help out in the back to ensure we have enough bread to sell throughout the day.

“I always give it my best effort, I put my all in.

“Start at 6.30 in the morning … they start at 4am the bakers, but I’m in not long after … I’ve been here four or five years now.”

Mr Oliver-McGrath loves Baker’s Delight and hopes to buy it one day.

“It’s a great job, it taught me a lot of life lessons, and it’s a good pathway,” he said.

“My plan is to buy a Baker’s Delight, I’m in training now to become a franchisee … so that’s the long-term plan.

“I feel very appreciated by the franchise and very proud.”

Speaking to Mathew Stephenson, the Traralgon store owner, he said Mr Oliver-McGrath started at Baker’s Delight as a “16-year-old kid, and he’s devoting his career to buying a bakery one day.”

Mr Oliver-McGrath’s position in an internal Baker’s Delight program to see him rise the ranks is a result of his own personal motivation and devotion to the job, said Mr Stephenson.

“It was through Taelan’s efforts that he was recognised for the quality of work that he does,” the store owner said.

Another award winner and Traralgon Centre Plaza’s security guard, Josh Henschel was on duty when asked for an interview. With the job on his mind, Mr Henschel was in full pursuit to find a suspect caught on camera robbing the plaza’s Liquorland.

With a little time to spare in between protecting the shopping centre, Mr Henschel said he loves his line of work.

“I really appreciate [the award], but I wasn’t expecting it. It just sort of happened,” he said.

As a complete surprise, Mr Henschel said, “I actually thought I was going to work when they invited me there”.

“I put in 100 per cent … every day is different … I do love (servicing this community), especially when people show appreciation, and a lot of people do.”

The Traralgon Rotary Club would like to congratulate all recipients and all the businesses involved.

The Rotary Club of Traralgon takes great pleasure in conducting this annual event, which recognises one of Rotary International’s founding cornerstones – vocation.

Introduced in Traralgon in 1985, ‘Pride of Workmanship’ is now being promoted by Rotary International in Australia and beyond.