Late last year, 94-year-old Lloyd Veal mentioned to his daughter Helen that it’d be great to visit Boral again.
Lloyd was reflecting on his 45-year career in mining, especially his 35 years at Boral and nine years as the Manager of our Berrima plant.
Helen contacted our Berrima site and plans were set in motion for a small group from our Berrima team to visit Lloyd at Helen’s Southern Highlands home.
The group had a lovely morning tea. They shared a goody bag of Boral merchandise and had a good ‘ol Aussie yarn about what Boral was like back in the 1960s and 70s and the way the Berrima site and the industry have changed since.
The group decided that Lloyd absolutely must return the favour with a visit to our Berrima plant and so early in June Lloyd and Helen made the trip to Berrima to spend the morning at the site.
Lloyd reflected on the way health and safety have improved in the industry over the years including support for teams in operational roles. Helen said her father’s life was changed forever when he had to attend a workplace fatality as a leader.
“My father was only about 26 when he had to investigate a terrible fatality on the work site at Marulan South. In those days, there was no such thing as support or counselling. My father’s life was forever impacted by that event.”
The team showed Lloyd around the site and some of the newer aspects of operations at the plant including alternative fuels and raw materials.
Thank you to Waqas Ali, Branko Vuleta, Gabriel Paicu and Linda Chalker for showing Lloyd around the site, sharing memories and ensuring Lloyd knew he would always be part of the Boral Berrima family.
“As we get older, I expect that we all reflect on our various life achievements.
“Not many people are given the opportunity that my father has been given. To be able to return to his previous workplace the Berrima plant and to be given a tour was the greatest gift.
“Boral, and its excellent employees, facilitated such a special opportunity.
At Berrima, we were treated like royalty. And the two Boral outings have given my father so much pleasure.”
Helen Portus, daughter of 94-year-old Lloyd Veal – Berrima Manager 1966 – 1974 and Boral employee for 35 years.