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City to Surf

Quarter Time Newsletter | Jan - Mar 2012 www.vemco.com.au

Vemco Group commenced the vegetation management of the United Energy (UE) Southern area network at the start of 2012. Our contract is with Tenix who have the jobto maintain the distribution infrastructure for UE.

The area covered by the contract is from Brighton to Dandenong and the area south thereof, including the Mornington Peninsula. There are approximately 90,000 poles within the contract area which covers both metropolitan and rural areas.

The Vemco Group team working on the contract are Michael Palmer, Leesa Anderson and Jacqui Tonks in the office, with former employees Dave Conway, Barry Hudgson, Steve Carew and Tim Le Souef returning to Vemco Group to work as field personnel.

The area covered by the contract is from Brighton to Dandenong and the area south thereof, including the Mornington Peninsula.

There are approximately 90,000 poles within the contract area which covers both metropolitan and rural areas.

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“QuarterTime

A newsletter for the Vemco Group employees and their families Volume 4 | Issue 1 | Jan - Mar 2012

Quarter Time Newsletter | Jan - Mar 2012 2

Colin’s Message

www.vemco.com.au

Colin Flanagan | CEO

At work, At play, SAFETY leads the way!

Getting to know YOU...

Ray Ward | Fleet Manager

Thank you all for making me feel so welcome, your welcoming support confirms to me that I have made the right decision in being a part of a great business which I know will grow and prosper.

I hope the knowledge that I bring to the business will assist us all in moving forward to the next stage of growth which will put us in a great position for further success. Secondly I have grown up in the commercial industry and I love it, I started my career with White Horse Trucks in Nunawading as an apprentice diesel mechanic, I then moved into another division of the business called Ranger Truck Rental where I experienced the roles of Service manager, Rental manager and State sales manager.

Looking for further experience in this area I left Ranger after 19 years and took up a position with Fleetlink leasing now Fleet Partners as the commercial Fleet coordinator managing sales staff with quotes on commercial equipment for leasing.

I left Fleet Partners and moved to Orix Australia where I was involved in the management of 1500 commercial assets for the rental division which included purchasing, management and disposal, recently my role with Orix also included the Operations department which included assessment and compliance of new equipment and also off-lease inspections of returned assets.

I love to tinker and consider myself a “fix it“ person. The last project was a full overhaul of a 1956 Nuffield Tractor which my father purchased thinking he bought a bargain, but once he had a days work with it he found out that seals don’t keep the oil and water in if you have been sitting around unused for 20years. I love anything with a motor and enjoy chain saws, motor cycles both road and trail as well as tractors and machinery.

I look forward to meeting and working with you all and being a part of the future success.

“ “From an outsiders point of view I have looked forward to coming and working for Vemco Group as a number of items interested me, first that the business is successful and growing. I wanted to be a part of this.

When I was asked to write this article for the newsletter I thought about what it is I wanted to say to everyone in this edition. It has been a huge 12 months for our businesses and as a result this has meant extra time and effort from everyone. It came apparent the more that I thought about it that the message I really wanted to get across was “thank you”.

These things take time and effort from the whole team, not just the people in the field delivery, but also Managers, Human Resources, IT, Fleet, BD and Finance.

Further to this work associated with this type of activity means time away from home. I want to also extend my thanks to the families that support these people and allow them to live away to get the job done.

Some of you may already have realized that we are installing across the business, an integrated IT system known as SAP, which means on top of the normal workload our Finance, Projects, Payroll, Human Resources and local management teams have to make extra effort to complete the documentation necessary to roll out this new information system.

I understand that for all of us the day to day workload does not go away when we travel or have projects to undertake. It makes life busy but we must ensure we strike a balance between work and family life.

I have challenged the exec team to come up with ways to ensure a balance is struck. I would like your help to stimulate discussion on “I-phone or email Etiquette’. I have a few suggestions that could be put into the mix to get started, for example. • No e-mails to be sent after 7pm in the evening or

over the weekend – this is the time you should be spending with your family and friends or quiet time.

• Consider your distribution list – only cc those who need to know

• Be concise and to the point – your subject heading should indicate to your reader what your e-mail is about and given a larger number of emails are read on I-phones, your point must stand out.

• When attaching files, ensure they are already paginated to print properly and do not attach unnecessary large files which can waste time or worse lock up systems.

I ask you also to provide suggestions and ideas for this etiquette. They can be emailed to me at lloveder@vemco.com.au.

Thanks again for your support and I look forward to the next 12 months.

Quarter Time Newsletter | Jan - Mar 2012 3

Nigel’s Column

www.vemco.com.au

Nigel Barry Director of Sales & Marketing

2012 promises to be an exciting year for the Vemco Group and I want to challenge everyone to focus on what we can do for our customers – new and existing.

Customers for our group can mean different things. It is not just an external customer but we also have internal clients that we deal with every day.• For example each time reception picks up the phone taking

a call from a Vemco Group team member, they are providing customer service to an internal client

• Each time a new person starts with the Vemco Group the Services team need to provide excellent customer service to the new person to make their start with the group welcoming and exciting

• Each time one of our field personnel stops and answers a query from a passer-by in the street they are providing customer service.

Customer service is the lifeblood of our business. Every person we come into contact with is a customer, potential customer or may know someone who interacts with us. Please keep in mind this principal when we deal with each other every day.

Further to this one of the Vemco Group’s key behaviours is • We deliver what we promise

Focusing on our delivery will bring the client statisfaction we look to provide and what we pride ourselves on.

Remember when promising something to your client• Be realistic – don’t make commitments you or the Group cannot

deliver on• Be proactive – if an issue comes up talk about it don’t hide it

away• Stay in touch – regular updates lets the customer know they are

important to us• Excuses – remember that people don’t care for excuses,

solutions are what they look for

These simple tips are just the start of excellent customer service. I challenge you to check what you do every day and think did I make the day easier for someone else and did I keep my promises.

‘15 Minutes

of Fame’Paul Schoolderman

Manager Gippsland | Design & Construction

What’s your favourite food?Satay Chicken

What’s your favourite movie?Dances with Wolves

Your ultimate holiday destination?Lord Howe Island

What’s your favourite hobby?Outdoor activity and indoor Volleyball

Your ultimate dinner guest?Douglas Mawson or Dick Smith as he is still alive

Who do you admire the most?Currently, Cadel Evans, that’s second place after my wife ofcourse

What’s your best memory?Feeling of freedom when I was 4ft tall

Favourite band?Pink Floyd

Name a hidden talent...Making the right decision....sometimes!

What’s your favourite quote?So long and thats for all the fish!

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Want to transform your Health and Wellbeing?Hurry and grab these healthy workplace offers*. Call Mark Hewish for more info on 03 8542 0700

To receive this offer you must provide evidence of your membership

Get $30 off your new or existing Gym Membership

To receive this you must provide evidence of your participation

BE QUICK ... ONLY 40 VOUCHERS AVAILABLE

Get $50 towards your sponsorship for a fun run/walkHURRY ... ONLY 10 VOUCHERS AVAILABLE

*Offers as part of the Vemco Group Healthy Workplace Policy VHR-024

“There are no traffic jams along the extra mile.” Roger Staubach (businessman, sports coach)

TOOL TALK

Welcome

Adonis TepaniaAmiee WhelanAndrew BernadouAnthony GentleBarry HudgsonBrendan PittBrett ClarkeChris WestmanChristopher SouthamCirilo VillanCraig WickhamDamien HallDavid NelsonDavid BuxtonDavid ReidDavid ConwayDavid WombwellDerek WilsonDilshan CoorayDouglas WoodDouglas CavanaghGeorgina Cusack Gerard Murphy Gregor MacdonaldHarry GibbsJames GarrettJarrod ConyersJason BoxJustin WoodKatrina Castles

A warm welcome to the following who have joined us since December 2011.

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Please submit your articles and photos for the next

issue to:

Aboard

Quarter Time Newsletter | Jan - Mar 2012

Clair Bennett-Smithcbennett-smith@vemco.com.au

P: 03 8542 0700

www.vemco.com.au

info@vemco.com.au1300 884 828

Laurie WhiteheadLeonie YoungMichael DavisonMikael SwanstonNeville ThomasRay WardRewi BorellRob McDowellRobert ScottRobert MasonRobert KingRobert BirchRyan JacksonSarah MeiklereidShane ReynoldsShane C SalmiSonny TupeneSrinivas ModuguStephen CarewSteven OsborneSteven BaxTanya JohnstoneTe Ahi MaihiTim Le Souef Tim McIntoshTomas HaerewaTony PatonTony WatsonWayne DavidsonWilliam Samuels

Vemco Group Values

Being Safe We all take responsibility for the SAFETY of ourselves and others

Committed We listen and act on our Customer’s needs

EmpoweredWe make the right decisions and never shirk responsibility

OpenWe looks for improvement and make positive changes Become a Donor

Giving blood is important as it helps to save lives, last year the Vemco Group organised a Blood Donation Drive and we are planning to do the same twice more this year. Our first Blood Donation Drive is booked for Monday 7th May and Wednesday 9th May and the second will be later in the year around November.

Come on Vemco “let’s roll up oursleeves” and get involved. To be part of this important process contact Clair E:cbennett-smith@vemco.com.au

This includes HV Gloves & Sleeves, Hot sticks, measuring sticks, dirt mats, full live line kits, stringing blocks, conductor covers and a whole range of specialised trailers and reels for stringing, recovery and NBN requirements.

To offer these items in a competitive and timely manner throughout Australia, SFS has established strong relationships with a range of international suppliers such as Timberland, GMP, Reelstrong, SafetyTest etc.Current clients include most major Utilities and Contractors such as Essential Energy, ETSA, Ergon, NT PowerWater, Tenix, Thiess, Transfield and the Vemco Group’s own D&C team.

The T&E area has also been able to develop innovative solutions for specific client needs. Essential Energy, for example, required a safe and convenient method to relocate excess dirt from setting a pole. As a solution SFS was able to develop a tested & rated dirt mat that can be lifted by a borer and has now distributed over 200 of these throughout NSW and QLD.

Since the appointment of Simon Avery, SFS has been able to further refine its product range and offerings. This includes developing various custom brochures for marketing purposes, establishing minimum stocking levels and building customer relationships throughout Australia.

Going forward, both Simon and John Murfitt will continue to develop joint fleet and T&E turnkey solutions. SFS is in a unique position to be the only EWP & Borer supplier in the country to deliver fully stocked fleet to the end user. This will allow the client to send our fleet immediately out to work without further delay while waiting for the required T&E.

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Simon Avery recently joined SFS as a National Business Development Manager to assist with the growth and focus of the Tools & Equipment (T&E) segment. Originally established to help source cutting gear for Vegetation Management, the T&E area has now expanded to offer a full range of products for the utility, tree maintenance and telecommunications industries.

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