Murray Bros celebrates 100 years of trade!

In June, Murray Bros celebrated a momentous occasion with Bob Jones, as he hit 25 years with the company! It truly is a wonderful milestone, and Murray Bros congratulated Bob and showed recognition and appreciation for the pride he displays in fulfilling his role every day.

Bob commenced at Murray Bros on the trading floor in June 1994, labouring in the apple, citrus and avocado departments. He was promoted to other positions such as shed manager, avocado salesman and is now an integral part of the avocado ripening team in our A1 warehouse. Bob has enjoyed the variety these different roles offered him at different times in his career. He prides himself on performing to the best of his ability in any role, and even though he is comfortable in his current role, it still presents regular challenges that he embraces.

During his 25 years, Bob has obviously witnessed significant change at Murray Bros and within the market precinct. Technology is one of the principal symptoms of, and cause for change. The method of communicating orders has changed from old fashioned faxes and landline phone calls, to mobile phones, texts, emails, and online ordering systems. The market site at Rocklea has expanded and been upgraded tremendously over the years. Bob now reflects on “how many more fruit shops there used to be in our community, and therefore how many more buyers there used to be within the markets. Now, the supermarket chains dominate the market for fruit and veg and so the number of buyers coming into to the markets has noticeably decreased.” He laments that what were always ‘early starts’ have now become ‘earlier!’
Bob would encourage any new staff commencing within the market environment to embrace the learning opportunities on offer by starting at the bottom and working their way up, just has he has. He has gained valuable insight and knowledge of all types of produce including where it originates and where it ends its journey in the logistics chain. This insight highlighted to Bob how hard it is for our country’s primary producers. “They can be affected in an instant by an extreme weather event and work incredibly hard to produce a high quality product, get it into the markets and earn a good return” he said.

Outside of work, Bob lives and breathes golf. He lives on a golf course so never has far to travel for practice or competition. Murray Bros is certainly fortunate that he didn’t more seriously consider taking up golf as a profession. When not on the golf course, Bob loves spending time with his family, including young grandchildren.

Congratulations on 25 years Bob! Murray Bros is truly grateful to have someone with your skill, knowledge, commitment and passion, and we hope you’ll be with us for many years yet!

Murray Bros is proud to announce that Lindsay Rosenthal has been awarded third prize at the Brisbane Markets’ Forklift Operator of the Year competition for 2018.

Being the largest concentration of forklifts on any worksite in Queensland, Brisbane Markets places great emphasis of the importance of safety, and this initiative is a fun way to bring safety awareness to the market community.

Competitors had to efficiently and safely navigate their way around a challenging obstacle course, to the cheers of the market crowd, who came not only to encourage their work colleagues, but to raise money at a charity barbeque for the MND and Me Foundation, which supports people and their families living with Motor Neurone Disease in Queensland.

Murray Bros was especially excited to have 3 competitors among the top 10 finalists, so congratulations also goes to Ziggy Chmielarski and Karla Bleakley who also competed well on the day, and who consistently demonstrate our Murray Bros safety culture.

In taking out 3rd place, Lindsay conquered his one concern, which was to keep concentrating despite the large crowd of people cheering and the officials watching his every move. He took home $500 and gave back a heartfelt thank you to Brisbane Markets Limited and sponsors CHEP and Toyota Material Handling for supporting Brisbane Markets’ forklift operators in this fourth year of the challenge. It was also fitting that our Managing Director, Stephen Edwards, was given the task of presenting this year’s recipients with their awards.

Murray Bros would also like to congratulate this year’s winner, Soolfai Fale from Sutton Fresh Direct and second place recipient, Na’a Finau from Nutrano.

Murray Bros Managing Director, Stephen Edwards, recently put his foot in the ring, acting as ‘cut-man’ for new WBO Welterweight World Champion, Jeff “The Hornet” Horn.

Stephen and Jeff became friends after Stephen joined Team Hornet over four years ago. Stephen has been in the…
corner for Jeff’s last 9 fights and was honoured to be there again in Jeff’s corner for the fight of his career against 11 time world champion, Manny Pacquiao.

Most people who don’t follow boxing had never heard of Jeff Horn prior to the pre-match build up and those who do meet Jeff, a primary school teacher, can’t believe he is a boxer.

“Jeff is one of the most genuine, caring, humble people I’ve ever met and when others meet him, they can’t imagine him in a boxing ring. He has a very competitive nature and that, along with his belief in himself, is what got him through the fight with Manny,” Stephen said.

Stephen reported that he was both nervous and excited for his close friend before the match and that being there, in the middle of Suncorp Stadium and 50,000 spectators, was an “electric” feeling.

During the fight, Stephen’s role was to assist Jeff’s trainer, Glenn Rushton, to treat any lacerations and nose bleeds in between each round. Stephen also has to ice the back of Jeff’s neck, apply Vaseline to Jeff’s face and give him water. In a fight of this standard, the Corner was kept very busy from the opening bell to the full 12 rounds.

The jubilation of Jeff, Stephen and the rest of his team was written all over their faces when Jeff was announced the “new Welterweight Champion of the World” and Stephen said after the fight that he didn’t think he would sleep for days.

In reality, only four days after Jeff’s fight, Stephen flew to Russia to again act as ‘cut-man’ for another Australian boxer, Mark Flanagan, who was fighting for the World Cruiserweight title. Unfortunately Mark lost that World Title fight on points.

It seems that with a rematch between Horn and Pacquiao now confirmed for later this year, it won’t be too long before our Managing Director is back in the ring.