After almost 42 years of loyal service to Woollams, they don’t come more dedicated to the job than Dave McNichol.
"Even after all these years I still enjoy getting a new set of plans and sussing them out and working out how we are going to carry out the job," the 62-year-old says.
"If it’s a little bit more complicated, then I enjoy the challenge even more. It’s been interesting work and I have enjoyed a rewarding career with a company held in high esteem by its employees and the Mackay community."
The Mackay site manager is one of Woollam’s longest-serving staff members and a face that truly represents a company which prides itself on the fact that it has produced many long-term and loyal employees.
Dave started at Woollams in 1969 as a fresh-faced 20-year-old. Since then, he’s been involved with some of the company’s biggest projects in the region including Mackay’s Entertainment Centre, the city’s community health centre, the redevelopment of the old railway station as well as countless works on local schools and hospitals.
What was to become a lifelong career began in February 1964, when a then 15-year-old Dave took on a five-year apprenticeship with house builder Tuss Van Gendergen.
"On the completion of my trade, I thought about putting in for a job in the then new coal industry," Dave recalls.
"There was the building of the township of Moranbah, Hay Point, the rail line or a mine or two. But it was building construction that I really loved and I heard good reports about TF Woollam and Son.
"It was on a Friday afternoon that I walked onto one of their sites in Mackay’s main street and got an immediate start from the local manager, Gus Brodel. My fate was sealed for the next 42 years."
During his 20s at Woollams, Dave worked in the Central Highlands, North West to Mount Isa and South to Inglewood on the NSW border.
"We had many country foremen in the early years who would travel with their young families with caravans in tow to all parts of Queensland," says Dave, who is now working on the Abbot Point coal sampling labs.
"I was 22 years of age when I was given my first foreman’s job at Shute Harbour. At the age of 30 I married and the next 10 years were spent working in Mackay, culminating with the completion of the Mackay Entertainment Centre.
"During my first 35 years the company was managed by Keith Woollam who was highly regarded by his clients, architects and all who worked for him. In his quiet way, he was a father figure to me. Sadly, he passed away seven years ago."
Now under the management of George Bogiatzis and Craig Percival , Dave believes Woollams still offers the same kind of support he received as a young lad all those years ago.
"This crew train and nurture the younger employees to produce their best, while still looking after the more senior members like me," he says.
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