Scholarship a second for Timaru
Pleasant Point man Tom Ware wants to inspire his children to achieve their dreams of university study, so he’s setting an example by starting a degree with a little help from his employer.
Ware, 48, manages the Washdyke Z service station and retail store, and has won a company scholarship to study a Bachelor of Applied Management from Otago University.
It is the second year in a row a Timaru person has won the company scholarship. Jessica McCleary, who works night shift at the same station, won last year.
‘‘I thought it was a fantastic opportunity to step up for [people] who have not had an opportunity to go to university at an earlier stage,’’ Ware said.
Ware’s son Thomas, 17, will start university next year and wants to be a microbiologist. His daughter Olivia, 15, wants to be a pharmacist.
‘‘They are really happy for me. If I can do it at my ancient age, I am sure they can do it as well,’’ Ware said.
Ware said having a degree would be recognition for his skills after 22 years in the British army and six years managing the service station. He said he had never worked in retail before and went straight into a management role.
‘‘You might be able to do this job but with that piece of paper, it says [those skills] have been tested and people have assessed you to see that you are capable of doing it,’’ he said.
‘‘Where I am now [as a manager] there is always someone below me who I hope wants to be like me one day. I had role models in the army who took time to lead by example. If I can do it, any one of those [employees] can do it,’’ Ware said.
Apart from achieving his degree, Ware wants his service station to be number one for customer service in New Zealand.
‘‘I have a real determination to finish what I start,’’ he said.