Work structure pays off
CAILEBB Duncan is closing in on his 31st birthday and has been working at Fletcher International since he was 17.
He was born in Moree and spent much of his early life in Orange before moving to Dubbo during his high school years.
“I left school in Year 11 (Senior Campus), I needed the money and work helps you stay out of trouble,” he told Dubbo Photo News.
“I’d actually come out in Year 10 working in the boning room one day a week and I’d come out and done a night shift so eventually I just left school to come out here full time.”
He said because of that flexibility of being able to work at the plant while still at school he knew exactly what the job entailed, giving him the taste of work and income as well the bonus of knowing his way around the plant and also having already laboured next to the people who’d be his fulltime workmates.
“It’s pretty important, it’s a flexible workplace like that and I’d met a lot of good people out here.”
Mr Duncan says the good constant money, the discipline of showing up each day and the prospect of a good career along many potential pathways had given him a structure and focus for his life which had proven to be invaluable.
“It’s really good like that, it’s good for myself to keep me out of trouble, it’s somewhere to be every day and I think it worked out well for me,” he said.
“I was an A Grade on the harvest floor and now I’ve taken over as the training officer from one of the boys, I never ever thought I’d be training people, when I started here.
“At the time I never really thought about a career, I just got the job and was coming to work and going home but when opportunities have come up, I’ve said I wouldn’t mind that.”
He’s a big fan of the way the company encourages people to reach their individual potential and then throws all sorts of training and opportunities at anyone who’s willing to have a crack.
“I think it’s really good, basically they give anyone a go, if you’re willing to work there’s always the work here, the company brings a lot of money to Dubbo and helps out the economy,” he said.
“The company looks after you if you put in the work and they’re pretty flexible, the family knows everyone who works here and they treat everyone well, they really do, they look after a lot of people.
“I’ve made a lot of good mates, there’s been a lot of good mentors for me over the years and my advice would be to come and give it a go, there’s a job for everyone.”