{"id":163300,"date":"2016-11-14T22:10:55","date_gmt":"2016-11-14T12:10:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=163300"},"modified":"2020-07-22T09:41:35","modified_gmt":"2020-07-21T23:41:35","slug":"swickers-reflects-on-a-long-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2016\/11\/14\/swickers-reflects-on-a-long-week\/","title":{"rendered":"Swickers Reflects On A Long Week"},"content":{"rendered":"
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South Burnett Mayor Keith Campbell with\u00a0Sunpork Group CEO Dr Robert van Barneveld\u00a0<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

November 15, 2016<\/strong><\/p>\n

Just over a week ago, Swickers boning room was in flames, nearly 600 workers feared for their jobs, and the Kingaroy economy looked very shaky indeed.<\/p>\n

Since then a huge effort has put the business back on its feet, and employees and pig producers are starting to smile.<\/p>\n

On Monday, 3300 pigs were processed through the Swickers’ kill floor in Kingaroy, taking the total for the week since the fire to an amazing 14,500.<\/p>\n

And at Ipswich, the relocated boning team – which only went into action on Monday – \u00a0is\u00a0now processing 100 pigs an hour.<\/p>\n

“It feels like two months ago that this has happened,” Sunpork Group CEO Dr Robert van Barneveld told a group of Kingaroy businesspeople on Monday evening.<\/p>\n

He said he was very proud of what the Swickers’ team of employees had achieved in a short time.<\/p>\n

The meet’n’greet was organised by South Burnett Directions with the assistance of the Kingaroy Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Department of State Development.<\/p>\n

It provided an opportunity for local businesspeople to quiz Swickers’ management about their intentions since the fire.<\/p>\n

South Burnett mayor Keith Campbell praised the expertise of Swickers for instilling a high level of confidence in their workers and making the whole community feel safe and secure.<\/strong><\/p>\n

He was also grateful that Swickers had a disaster management plan in place … a suggestion for other businesses.<\/p>\n

“I want you to know that we as a community will be there to support you in whatever way we can,” Mayor Campbell said.<\/p>\n

Swickers General Manager Linchon Hawks said there were some people he especially wanted to thank.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“The fire service was remarkable and without them we would have lost a lot more,” he said.<\/p>\n

“And the SES, the heroes behind the scenes that we don’t often talk about.”<\/p>\n

He said he also wanted to thank the South Burnett Regional Council, councillors and the Disaster Management Group.<\/p>\n

But there were also people such as Mitre 10, who supplied eskies on the Sunday, the Glendon Street Cafe, Wards Electrical, Armstrong Concreting, Wickhams Transport …<\/p>\n

Dr\u00a0van Barneveld said work would begin on the new construction “the second we can clear the site”.<\/p>\n

The meeting was assured local suppliers would be used wherever possible during the project.<\/p>\n

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