Today, Merriwa Industries marked the end of its Timbers division with current and former staff. The event held both the sadness of closing a part of the organisation's history and a celebration of the craftsmanship and mateship built up over five decades of operation, a remarkable length of operation for any business.
"This is one of the hardest decisions Merriwa has ever made. Timbers is woven into our history and our hearts. We thank everyone who has been part of its story since 1975. But its ending is also a beginning: this decision clears the way for new investment and growth, so we can keep creating learning and employment opportunities for people with disability," said CEO Helen Tobin-King.
The closure became necessary as shifts in the forestry and building industries, combined with growing competition from imported products, made it clear that Merriwa could no longer sustain a viable timber operation.
Most team members from Timbers will take up roles in other divisions of Merriwa while some are receiving outplacement services to pursue their career elsewhere.
Woodworking and timber products were among Merriwa's very first activities when it began in 1975. In recent years, the division supplied builders and major hardware chains with laminated hardwood beams and stair treads distributed nationally.