Elders Killara feedlot have been commended as Team of the Year 2017 for their commitment to safety, staff culture, investment in building strong long-term relationships with customers and clients to produce a high quality product.
Located west of Quirindi NSW, Killara is a licensed 20’000 head facility supplying high grade cattle to both domestic and export markets. Unpredictable in nature, livestock can be dangerous, yet Killara were proud to deliver a figure of zero lost time injuries (LTI’s) in the past 18 months, down from 265 in FY15, reflecting their commitment to safety.
Killara is an industry leader in innovative feedlot operations using benchmarking and data collection to continually improve on performance, leading industry research programs to improve forecasting and developing operational improvements to gain efficiencies.
Relationships are the basis of the Killara business and ensuring there are strong communication channels is crucial for them to build platforms of trust throughout the supply chain. Killara has proudly supplied Woolworths since 1996 and have received numerous industry accolades, including being named a finalist in the Woolworths Supplier of Year awards.
Matt Spry Woolworths’ Livestock Buyer, says “The hard work and diligence required to deliver a high quality, consistent product fifty-two weeks of the year by Tony, Andrew and the Killara Livestock team is an absolute credit to them and the Elders network.”
Patrick Warmool, Managing Director of Jack’s Creek, says he is proud of the strong partnership the two parties have built.
“The customer focused team at Killara regularly go above and beyond for Jack’s Creek, our customers, and are always willing to share information regarding their operation. Andrew, Tony and Stuart are proud of the work that they undertake at Killara and their resolve for continuous improvement is refreshing and exciting. Jack’s Creek is honoured to be associated with Killara.”
Manager Tony Fitzgerald says that the Killara feedlot’s success is a team effort, and that a strong staff culture has helped them to achieve the goals they set this year. Their focus not just on safety and supply, but of the physical and mental well-being of one another means that they have a strong team morale.
“What’s behind the team is that they support one another, they train one another, and they laugh together and have a good time,” he said.
“We’ve got 34 people who come to the feedlot every day. A lot of our people are in the pens by 6am and work 365 days a year including Christmas, so it’s their commitment that has secured us this result.”
“Killara has had a really big year, as has Elders. The standard of our nominees reflects what has been a great year for us as a Company.”
Elders CEO and Managing Director Mark Allison, says that Killara Feedlot demonstrates all of Elders’ values on a day to day basis.
“Team work, customer focus, acting with integrity, being accountable and using innovative practices are all apparent in the way that the Killara team run the feedlot,” says Mr Allison.
“Tony’s leadership is admirable in the way he always looks for ways to improve the feedlot’s operations, and it’s this kind of leadership that drives high performance,” he said.
“I congratulate the Killara team, not just on a successful year in terms of what they delivered to their customers and suppliers, but in terms of how they prioritise each other’s safety and well-being each day.”
https://eldersrural.com.au/2017/12/22/killara-feedlot-announced-elders-team-year-2017/