Lockdown shows workers ’ mettle
More than 50 staff at Limcora Plumbing and Drainage shocked bosses by voluntarily taking two weeks ’ leave without pay , to keep the Hawkesbury business alive during the construction industry ’ s two-week lockdown .
“ When I found out , it was definitely a tear jerk moment ,” CEO Evan Graham said .
“ That really hits the heart when your team just starts rallying like that .
“[ The lockdown ] really came at the worst time for so many business owners . It ’ s definitely hit close to home and there ’ s a big impact across the whole Hawkesbury region .”
Nearly 30 per cent of Hawkesbury businesses are classified as construction .
Facing a weekly wage bill of $ 100,000 and with 2020 ’ s timber shortage resulting in a 40 per cent increase in material costs , cashflow was already stretched at the Mulgrave business , owned by two local families , employing a local team of 55 .
“ The unknown is the hardest thing to swallow but all of us are in the same boat … which bands everybody together . We ’ re all dealing with the same problem ,” Evan said .
The call to take a two week pay break was led by Kane Loveridge , a Limcora drainer / excavator operator in his early 20s .
“ Kane just recently bought a house , so he has a mortgage , a wife , a young daughter and another one on the way ,” managing director , Alex Nelson said .
“ He was also one of the first to put
his hand up to work Sunday , to help with the prep clean up , with less than a day ’ s notice .”
It ’ s not the first time the Limcora team banded together . In 2020 , they took a 20 per cent wage cut to help keep everything going , which the business paid back before its Christmas shutdown .
“ This time around I think it goes to show a true story of
Overwhelmed by staff generosity : Evan Graham and Alex Nelson .
More defibs out n about in the Hawkesbury
The roll-out of community defibrillators continues across greater Hawkesbury , with Blaxlands Ridge , Upper Colo and Kurrajong devices being installed and put into service last month .
As previously reported in the Independent , the Community Defib Project , began by Wisemans Ferry ’ s Sophie Wills , is solely reliant on community funding , donations and grants .
The AEDs ( automated external defibrillators ) are devices anyone can use to respond to a sudden cardiac arrest victim .
The units , located in easily accessible public areas , including ferries and roadside junctions , give locals in vulnerable communities far from hospital , access to immediate
give and take and how each individual ’ s sacrifice adds up to a huge win for everyone , when needed ,” Alex said .
Evan added , “ If this is how we band together in the hard times , the future [ of Hawkesbury businesses is ] certainly bright .”
attention and buy vital time for a victim before paramedics can arrive .
The latest installations involved teams of more than 40 volunteers , led by Gillian Jessup ( St Albans ), Richie Benson ( Cumberland Reach ), Rod Cumming ( Upper Colo ), Melissa Barry ( Blaxlands Ridge ), Tanya Little ( Sackville- Ebenezer ) and Chris Dickinson ( Oakville-Maraylya-Pitt Town ).
Sophie said the uptake in the Hawkesbury has been incredible .
“ As a Hawkesbury local I know how special this community is , I know how much of a privilege it is to live where we do ,” Sophie said .
“ But we also must be realistic about how far we are from help . We must come together as a community to create a more prepared and safer community .
“ That ’ s what the Community Defib Project is about . We ’ re here to give you the tools to prepare your community to respond to a sudden cardiac arrest and possibly save a life .”
For details on where the AEDs are located throughout the Hawkesbury , go to : communitydefibproject . org . au /.
One of the newest defibrillators at the corner of Comleroy and Blaxlands Ridge Roads , Kurrajong .
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8 ISSUE 135 // AUGUST 2021 theindependentmagazine . com . au THE HAWKESBURY INDEPENDENT