When Wayne McKeon, a contractor for Softwoods, was asked to 'deliver a load' for free to Heritage Industries in the 1970's, little did he know that more than half a century of service and kinship with the organisation lay ahead.
Heritage Mount Gambier merged with BedfordGroup back in 2010, and since that first timber drop-off, Wayne has now notched up an incredible 55 year association with Bedford!
In the 1980's Wayne founded W&M McKeon Transport in Mount Gambier, and through his business, the free load deliveries would continue – right up until 1998, when Wayne sold the business and retired.
Wayne and his wife, Monalisa, still live in Mount Gambier, just a stone’s throw from Bedford on Attamurra Road. The couple has two grown children and two cherished granddaughters.
Long after Wayne’s affiliation with Bedford began, the couple’s granddaughter, Angelique, now works at Bedford, enjoying her tenth year of service this year. She is affectionately known as ‘The Doctor’ because of her naturally caring nature. Wayne and Monalisa’s other granddaughter, Chantelle, is also a regular face at The Learning and Experiences Hub.
After Wayne’s retirement, he quickly realised that he was not the kind of person who could sit idle. So he eagerly accepted an invitation to join the Heritage Industries Board in the early 2000's. Later, he became the organisation’s final Chairman in 2010 before it merged with Bedford.
Throughout his 55 years, Wayne volunteered whenever he could, doing 'odd jobs' at the Bedford site and appreciating the cups of coffee offered on his visits.
Wayne is a man of many talents, and so many of them have been put to good use at Bedford.
From filling pot-holes before the car-park was bituminised, felling trees and poisoning weeds, to giving the ride-on mower a regular workout and even doing a spot of welding, there is little that Wayne hasn’t turned his hand to.
Following the recent installation of a new loader at the site, Wayne’s to-do list includes making sure it’s kept in tip-top condition with a good clean.
Graham Harris, Manager at Bedford Mount Gambier, says that Wayne is an all-rounder and a real asset to Bedford.
“He can turn his hand to just about anything we need doing around the place,” Graham says.
Wayne is happy to help out and says that “… if Graham knows I can do something, I just do it!”
When asked: ‘Why Bedford?’; Wayne is lightning quick to answer.
“It’s the people there,” he said. “It’s well worth it. That’s how I feel. If I do a job, they always come and thank me. Everyone does. They’re just terrific, caring people.”
When he does find spare time, Wayne enjoys a spot of gardening for his 95 year-old neighbour and also for his daughter. He isn’t one for sitting still, however Monalisa hopes to take him away for a slow-paced holiday later this year.
“I don’t know where we’re going – but we’re going to go somewhere,” a resigned Wayne said. “Wherever Lisa wants to go, I’ll go along with her.”
As for his Bedford volunteering, Wayne has no intentions of stopping any time soon.
“I’ll be there until the day I drop, probably!” he told us, with a grin.
