South Burnett CTC CEO  Nina Temperton, second from right, at front, and Disability Services manager Barb O’Hanlon with the proud and award-winning team from Gumnut Place in Murgon

June 3, 2016

It’s not every day that a South Burnett organisation wins a national award, which is the reason why the crew from Gumnut Place in Murgon earned a standing ovation on Wednesday.

The disability enterprise offers employment opportunities and training for up to 20 people at its centre in Gore Street.

The services it offers to local businesses – everything from secure document shredding to pallet manufacture, trophy making and catering – are also very popular.

Gumnut Place is run by South Burnett CTC.

CEO Nina Temperton broke the news about the national award at CTC’s annual employees’ day which was held at Wooroolin Hall.

She praised all the workers at Gumnut for being “open to change, open to new challenges and working their butts off!”

‘We’re so proud of all of you,” she said.

Mrs Temperton handed the Australian Disability Enterprise Excellence Award to manager Barb O’Hanlon who was almost in tears as she thanked her Gumnut team for all their hard work.

The award, which was presented in Canberra on Monday, honours a Disability Enterprise that has made a significant contribution in ensuring people with disability are encouraged to participate to their full potential in employment.

It is presented annually by the Federal Government’s Department of Social Services.

The award announcement was the highlight of South Burnett CTC’s employees’ day.

Earlier in the day full-time and casual staff members filled the hall to hear guest speaker Adam Fraser explain the necessity for a work – life balance.

After lunch and photographs, a series of staff awards were handed out, including the prestigious Howard Leisemann STAR award to an outstanding South Burnett CTC employee.

This year’s award was won by Esther Ross who works at the organisation’s headquarters in Kingaroy.

Esther Ross was presented with the Howard Leisemann STAR award – STAR stands for Service, Teamwork, Attitude and Reliability, and has been presented to a senior CTC staff member every year since 2010
Guest speaker Dr Adam Fraser, centre, was presented with a hand-painted gift by CTC employees Les and Barbara Stewart … Barbara only finished the painting on Wednesday night!
Peer awards … from left, Michael Sanford (Youth & Family Services, Kingaroy); Jaimee-Leigh Gibbs (Childcare); Hayden Mashford (Resident Services); Kirsty Cauley (Partners In Foster Care); Kim Brackin (CROSB); Wendy Percival (HQ) and Louella Blair (Youth & family Services, Murgon). Absent was Phillip Martin (Gumnut)
South Burnett CTC Employees who have clocked up five years of service were also presented with a thank you gift by CTC CEO Nina Temperton
Ten-year employees Les Stewart and Paz Remalante were recognised for their service
South Burnett CTC Board chairman John Box and Board member Marc Reinbott
CTC employees gathered for a group photo (and an ice cream) near the rotunda at Wooroolin

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Guest speaker Dr Adam Fraser talked about balancing work and everything else …


 

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