July 5, 2014
The South Burnett’s 2014 Citizen of the Year, John Box, was farewelled at Ergon Energy on Friday morning after more than a 40-year career with the organisation.
John started work at age 15 on January 12, 1970, with the then-Wide Bay Burnett Regional Electricity Board in Maryborough as an apprentice electrical fitter / mechanic.
After completing his apprenticeship, he moved to Murgon and was the on-call mechanic there for five years. Then it was on to Hervey Bay as an on-call mechanic/inspector for five years, and Kilkivan as foreman.
He landed in Kingaroy about 30 years ago and has been here ever since, working his way up from an installation inspector through the ranks of designer, construction supervisor, area manager and works scheduler to Area Services Manager.
His total service with Ergon (and its predecessors) is an amazing 44½ years.
“It’s a great place to work but I can’t quantify that because I have never worked anywhere else!” he joked on Friday morning.
“It has been a very interesting journey and career and I have enjoyed every bit of it. I have made some lifelong friends along the way and have a wealth of experiences.
“Behind every good man there is a good lady and I credit a lot of my success in the industry to my wife Chris.
“When we were in Murgon, I would get called out and Chris was expected to answer the phone and pass on any additional calls via the two-way to me. Sometimes she would be in the dark with three little children.
“We now have specialised staff in a state-of-the-art contact centre in Rockhampton to handle this work.”
So will he miss coming into work? “No!”
John has been on “transition” to retirement for the past 12 months.
“I have been tapering. I have been working three days a week for the past six months, and for the six months before that, on four days a week,” he said.
“We plan to retire in Kingaroy and become more involved in community service activities. We do have plans to travel but will mix that with time spent with our 10 grandchildren.”
The couple, married in 1973, plans to pack their SUV and do some touring, staying in cabins and homestays.
And John, who will be turning 60 in December, won’t be letting up on his community work, either – and to Chris’ horror has a couple more organisations pencilled in to his busy schedule.
He originally became involved in community work through the St Mary’s P&F and then Apex, where he was honoured with Life Membership after serving several terms as secretary and president.
John is also president of the Local Ambulance Committee, an active JP and has been involved in the organisation of the Kingaroy Christmas Carnival, Kingaroy Peanut Festival, South Burnett Wine and Food in the Park Festival and Motors in Motion.
He is also a Board Member and chairman of community radio station CROW-FM.
And if that’s not enough to keep him busy, he plans to make a roll-top wooden desk for his 60th!
Somehow or other John has fitted in a lifelong love of woodworking with his career and his community service (his father was a cabinetmaker).
- Related article: John Is Our 2014 Citizen Of The Year
[UPDATED with correction]
