Tony Pasin (Barker, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise today to speak with great pride about the ongoing success of Bowhill Engineering, a family-owned business based in the Murraylands in my electorate of Barker. Bowhill Engineering won the South Australian 2014 Telstra Australian Business Awards, which was announced in Adelaide on June 27. Brendon and Averil Hawkes, who were previously broadacre farmers, started a small rural machinery maintenance, repair and modification workshop in the early 1970s.

Since then, the family-owned business has evolved into a multimillion dollar specialist fabricator of heavy and complex structural steel. Now headed by Jeremy and Jodie Hawkes, it specialises in large components for small projects, including road and pedestrian bridges, locks and weirs. The company uses state-of-the-art technology, including 3-D simulation, to test its techniques, enabling delivery of effective solutions to complex problems. With 25 staff and boasting clients across Australia, Bowhill Engineering's recent work is on show for all to see thanks to involvement in major projects like Adelaide's Southern Expressway duplication and the recently upgraded Wayville Railway Station.

Managing director Jeremy Hawkes accepted the award on behalf of his family and staff and, in a brief speech provided an inspiring insight into the history of the business, including some extraordinarily tough times the family and staff have had to endure. Award judges said the business is a great role model, with outstanding leadership, strong business acumen and business management, and an unwavering community spirit.

On behalf of the people of Barker, I wish this successful and fiercely proud regional business well as it now progresses through to the national awards, which will take place in August.