Our People

When did you join HBG? I started in 1968. My first pay was $18 as an apprentice mechanic, but then I started driving which was better pay!

Current Role: Supervisor - Equipment Services.

Best part of your job: I used to enjoy driving dozers about 15 years ago.

What do you like doing outside work? Fishing, hunting and working on the farm.

What do you like about HBG? The family atmosphere.

Memorable moments: One Christmas we were carting hay on Bruny Island with Rowley Hazell.  We were almost finished and looking forward to a beer when the load toppled over - Rowley made us load the cart again before we had our Christmas drinks!

Work motto: Just get in do it, and don't complain!

When did you start at Hazell Bros? 25 July 1994.

What was your first role? Earthmoving and Transport invoicing - back in the days where it was nearly all done manually.

What is your current role? Concrete Administration Supervisor - administration for all concrete plants (HBG, DVC, QMC).

Do you have any Memorable Moments at Hazell Bros? Yes, Mrs Hazell bringing her homemade scones to the Margate Yard for everyone to enjoy.

What do you like about working for Hazell Bros: The family atmosphere - which is really important to me.  And the great people that I have worked with over the years.

What do you like doing outside work?  Gardening, motor cross racing, dining out and shopping.  My other passion is my family, which includes my husband Ricky, who also works for the Group, and my three lovely children.

What's your work motto? Teamwork

When did you start work with Hazell Bros?  1978 - My first pay was $30! 

What was your first job?  Boiler Maker Apprenticeship at the old Margate depot.  I spent the first eight years at Margate before moving to HBMI and I have been there ever since.  

Memorable moments: Being sent to Europe to investigate Swedish Steel (2007).  Bringing a boat down from Waratah (1984) with Robert Hazell by road - only for it to sink when we got it in the water.  Donald Hazell then bought it and put it in a local park.  Every other day is a memorable day too. 

What do you like about working for Hazell Bros?  It's part of my family.  We've had six members of my family work for the Company and our dad was a good friend of Donald's. The brothers have always been there to help out if there has been a problem outside of work.  I've enjoyed seeing the business grow from its early days and beat the tough times.  I like to see the Company doing well.

What is the best part of your job? To be able to  participate in the design and upcoming installation of the new plant we are building here early next year.

Years with Company: 23

How long have you lived on the NWC? I have lived on the coast since 1985.  Before that, I spent 19 years on the west coast, but I was originally from Karoola near Lilydale.

What do you enjoy most about the job? The challenge, and getting positive feedback from customers about the quality of the job.

What's interesting about QMC Devonport? All our suppliers are local, including Lloyds North Quarry and  Goliath Cement. We use recycled water as much as possible in our mix and when cleaning so that we use minimal town water.

What's interesting about concrete? There are lots of different mix designs and colours available.

What do you like doing outside work? Fishing with my Grandson at the Great Lake and on the Mersey River.

What's your work motto? Quality, quantity, and on time for customers.

What is your role with HBG?  I am the Heavy Haulage Supervisor based in Burnie.  I have been with the Group for almost 10 years.  A lot has changed in that time. When I started, Hazell Bros was operating forestry in the North of the state.  When they pulled out, I was left alone with one truck and one trailer.  Our presence on the NWC is growing and we now have 10 trucks and 10 trailers.

What do you enjoy doing outside work?  Golf and fishing - in that order! 

What is your work motto?  Work safely 

What do you enjoy most about your job?  The challenge to be safe, secure and profitable 

Memorable moments with HBG?  Quite a few moments, but mostly the challenges that come along.

What is your role at HBG? I am a Heavy Haulage Driver. I travel about 600km per day and enjoy driving in a new truck - I'm careful to avoid wearing out the pedals!

How many years have you worked with the Group? I have been with Hazell Bros for about 30 years, and in that time I've done everything from changing tyres and loading bales of hay to babysitting Robert's kids.

What do you enjoy outside work? I live at Margate and I enjoy spending quality time with my dog. 

What do you like about HBG? Working in the Transport Team.

Years with HBG: I have been with Hazell Bros for about 3½ years.  I worked in Transport for a few years, but decided I wanted to spend more time with my family.  I moved to Fleet Maintenance 3½ months ago and took on the apprenticeship.

What do you like about your job? I like the variety and challenges.

What do you enjoy working on most? I like working on everything, but especially earthmoving gear and trucks.

What are you working on now?  I am replacing hydraulic hoses on a Manitou loader.

What do you enjoy doing outside work?  I enjoy spending time with my three kids.  I have a four year old and twins who are now 8 months old.  I also enjoy off road racing.

What is your role at HBG? I am the Workshop Leading Hand for Nyrstar Port Pirie. This involves controlling the workshop which services all of the HBG fleet of 26 trucks and Nyrstar equipment (light vehicles, kanga loaders, stationary diesel engines)

How long have you been with the Group?  16 months

Where do you live? Crystal Brook, which is 27km inland from Port Pirie

What do you do outside work? I play football and cricket in the local teams, and I barrack for Port Adelaide

What do you like most about working for HBG? Great bunch of people to work with

Why are you in Hobart? I'm in Hobart to do some training with the workshop and to visit a number of sites around Hobart, including the Quarry and Nyrstar

What is your role at HBG? Technical Officer for Qual Tech. I am Hobart based, but currently spending a bit of time at the Tamar Valley Power Station and Aquatic Centre projects.

How long have you been with HBG? I have been with Hazell Bros for about 18 months

What do you like about working with HBG? I like the challenges. There is something different happening every day, and you never know quite what to expect with so many things going on around the state.

What makes your job interesting? The new high strength triple blend concrete is interesting because it is new to Tasmania. I also get to work with a wide variety of people in my job.

What do you enjoy outside work? Outside work I enjoy sport - especially golf and sailing.  On the weekends I enjoy boating activities with my family. We like fishing, knee boarding and skiing.

Johnny Arnold has worked at HBMI since its conception over 30 years ago.  His dad Jack Arnold was one of the original founders and Johnny was involved in the original construction of the first plant.  Johnny's main role at the quarry is driving the pit loader and he can proudly lay claim to have loaded around 90% of the rock out of the pit.

A larikin at heart, he is specialist loader driver with tens of thousands of hours of experience. He is renowned for getting long life out of a set of tyres and many marvel at his ability to make a tough job look easy.

What are some of your fondest memories? Seeing the place grow.  I like my job and I like seeing what I've done.  I take pride in the pit.

What do you like about working for Hazell Bros? They are a good company to work for. The boys I work with are easy to get along with. 

After 30 years of work here, do you plan on retiring? When we reach the creek at the other side of the pit (some 20 million tonnes time)

Role at HBG: Boilermaker Welder

Been at HBG: 12 months. I did some mine and construction work before working at HBG

What do you like best about your job? I like the variety and doing fit ups of equipment

Outside work: I enjoy spending time with my partner and son, and doing outdoor stuff like fishing and hunting

Been at HBG: About two and a half years. I started in payables after deferring uni. Hazell Bros encouraged me to continue with my degree and I have exams this week.

What do you like best about your job? I like the people and the vast range - I enjoy my work and my job because it's different from anything I have previously done.

What's interesting about your job? I get to travel to Statewide Cranes every month and it's great to meet our northern staff.

WTFOC activities: I play in the Hazell Bros netball team and volleyball team. In volleyball we didn't win a game, but we had a lot of fun trying. We have been more successful in netball!

Outisde work: My free time at the moment is spent studying and I have a puppy and a cat so I spend time with them.  I love music and enjoy going to festivals and concerts. My other interests include playing club netball and socialising. In April next year I am getting married, so I have also been busy getting ready for the wedding.