Apr 29, 2021
- Awards & Recognition
- Citywide Life
- Horticulture Services
- Mower
- People & Culture
- Turf Technician
When Andy Grant and Gareth Cowlishaw talk about their respective work on the Melton Open Spaces contract, one word pops up repeatedly in both conversations: camaraderie.
“I think we all love the physicality and diversity of the job, and the time that it gives us with our families,” says Andy. “But the thing I always come back to is how much I love this team. We all get on so well.”
Andy became a team leader at the Ravenhall depot when Citywide’s contract at neighbouring Whittlesea ended in March 2019. A week later, after considerable negotiations and uncertainty, he and 11 other members of the Whittlesea team were successfully redeployed to Melton.
Among that team was Gareth – or Gazz as his friends call him – who jumped off his Broadacre mower in Whittlesea on the Friday and hopped straight back on it in Melton on Monday.
“I’ve been riding this thing for more than five years now, so I suppose it’s almost a living part of me,” jokes Gazz.
In May, Gazz will celebrate his 10th year at Citywide – three months after Andy chalked up 15 years with the company. The pair are a walking advertisement for the type of teamwork – and yes, camaraderie – that we all cherish at Citywide.
“I think that, as much as they like good workers at Citywide, they would much rather have good people,” says Gazz. “At the Melton contract, I reckon we’ve got that in spades.”
A highly regarded operator
Perennially outgoing, perennially perched on his Broadacre, Gazz has gained a notoriety among his teammates for his fearless commitment to getting the job done – wherever it takes him.
“The Broadacre is a big machine,” says Andy, “but Gazz is able to get it into places most people wouldn’t even try to. He’s a very highly regarded operator.”
With up to 600 parks, reserves, ovals and road reserves scattered across an area of nearly 400 km², Gazz’s work involves mowing anything from pristine lawns to tangled scrub.
“I guess I must cut good grass,” says Gazz modestly. “When I started out on the streets of Cooper and Epping, I realised how valuable doing the road reserves was to the team. The more of those you do, the less time the detailed crews have to spend mowing busy median strips on foot among traffic.”
“It may not be the most amazing job in the world, but I really enjoy it,” adds Gazz. “I can work at my own pace, and I never have to bring work home.” Home is a simple pad that Gazz shares with his faithful kelpie/labrador cross, Mija, and where he spends a lot of time with his beloved father.
Love at home and work
Andy divides his time between a city base in Epping, and his family home in Beaufort, where his two children go to school. He remembers his wife Annie being pregnant with their 14-year-old daughter, Siena, when he first joined Citywide.
“Moving into a supervisory role has definitely enabled me to spend more time at home,” says Andy. “But I still enjoy the camaraderie here. We have a very special team at Ravenhall, and I’ve had a string of great managers down the years.”
So what keeps him going at work? “When I see a tired old site brought up to speed and looking bright and inviting, that’s something that still delights me,” says Andy. “We take great pride in our jobs, with everyone involved in attaining the highest level of presentation.”
Gazz agrees that the team spirit is special at Melton. “The camaraderie and team culture are really great here,” he says. “There’ll always be the occasional personality clash, just because we’re human, but this team is excellent. I worked on the Whittlesea contract for eight years, and I’m still friends with people I worked with there who have left the company.”
As well as their career anniversaries, 2021 will see Andy and Gazz notch up important personal milestones: Andy turns 50 in July, and Gazz turned 40 in February. We wish you many happy returns, guys – and many more happy years in the saddle at Citywide!
Media Contact:
Simon Mossman - Group Corporate Communications
M 0427 307 216
E simon.mossman@citywide.com.au
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