When Tim Bourn rocked up for his first day at Monos’, he wasn’t met with a traditional welcome to a new job. Instead, Peter, a former colleague, looked up and asked, “Where’s your carton?”
“I didn’t realise there was an arrival tax,” Tim laughed.
“Later, when I took a break, I had to pay ‘departure tax’ - another carton! Coming back from break? You guessed it, more cartons.”
It felt like he was forever supplying the yard with beer, but it was all part of the culture back then. The cartons weren’t just about a drink; they were a part of the team bonding that helped Tim settle in quickly.
That first day back in 2000 marked the start of what’s now a 25-year journey with Monos’ in Roxby Downs.
Before officially joining as a boilermaker and welder in the Charlton Road workshop in April, Tim had already been working as a subcontractor, so he was familiar with the company.
“I first joined Monos as a subcontractor from 1998 to 2000. In April 2000, I officially came over to Monos as a Boilermaker/Welder in the workshop on Charlton Road, working under Big Pete (Peter Dunkley),” he said.
“I was later made a team leader, running a full-time crew of around five on site, which would grow to 10-12 for shutdowns. In 2003, I stepped up to become a projects supervisor, a role I am proud to hold still.”
Tim’s taken on some of the site’s most significant challenges over the years. One that still stands out is the SX rebuild after the fire in 2001.
“The SX (Solvent Extraction) rebuild after the fire and the installation of the four pack pulse columns back in 2001 were huge milestones for me. I worked night shift for nearly four months straight; it would have been one of my first large projects supervising in a step-up role,” he said.
He’s also grateful to the people who helped shape his early days.
“Dave Pattenden, Peter Dunkley and Barry Dadleh made a huge impact,” Tim said.
“When Jo and I moved to Roxby from Adelaide, we didn’t know anyone. They made it easier for us to settle in. Friends quickly became family.
“My wife Jo’s a big part of that, too. Got to keep her in the lifestyle she’s accustomed to.
“But really, it’s the people. Passing on what I’ve learnt to the younger crew means a lot.”
Tim’s especially proud that both his kids have had a taste of life at Monos’. His son Thomas started as a school-based apprentice and continued into the boilermaker trade, while Madelyne worked alongside Tim as a trade assistant before heading down her own career path.
Twenty-five years on, Tim’s still a familiar face around the site, still getting the job done and still up for a yarn.
“The friendships and support have been invaluable, and that’s what makes Monos’ more than just a workplace,” he said.