Community marks Invicta’s centenary
WILMAR’S Invicta Mill celebrated its centenary on Friday and many Burdekin residents from Giru and beyond gathered to celebrate the significant milestone.
Invicta Mill production superintendent James Wallace said it was great to finally get the chance to properly celebrate Invicta’s milestone with the Giru community.
“Invicta Mill and the Giru community go hand-in-hand. Without the mill there would be no community, and without the community, there would be no mill,” Mr Wallace said.
“It’s fantastic to see so many people out here celebrating this milestone, both past and present and even the young guys from the state school being here as well.
“We were fortunate to have seven past mill managers return for the event, alongside many other current and former employees who have been instrumental to the success of Invicta.
The morning ceremony, which involved students from Giru State School, included the sealing of a time capsule, and the dedication of the refurbished Invicta locomotive, which is now on permanent display at the mill’s entrance.
Invicta Mill’s current longest-serving employee, Phil Hervey, who has been part of the team for 51 years, cut the celebratory birthday cake with one of the mill’s newest employees, Elias Papidimitriou, who joined as an apprentice this year.
Wilmar’s general manager production and technology Jay Venning, who is a former manager of Invicta Mill, said it was great to see so many people come together to celebrate the milestone.
“Invicta is a very special
place for me, for Wilmar and for the sugar industry. It’s the biggest mill in Australia and has a lot of new and unique technology,” Mr Venning said. “It’s had a lot of challenges that have been resolved by a lot of very capable people, many of whom came before me.”
John Baird, also a former Invicta Mill manager, said there was a great turnout for the event.
“It’s been great meeting up with some friends I hadn’t seen for 30 years. I thought the mill did a great job of the celebrations,” Mr Baird said.
The festivities included bus tours through the factory, and an historical exhibition displaying memorabilia.
“Without the mill there would be no community, and without the community, there would be no mill. Invicta Mill production superintendent James Wallace