Barry Juffs honoured for more than half a century of service

Published 9:36am 30 October 2020

When a fresh-faced Barry Juffs started work for Moreton Bay Regional Council as a 17-year-old in 1967, he’d never have believed the teenagers of 2020 are expected to have 17 different jobs in their lifetime.

Barry has dedicated his entire 53-year career to working at the Dayboro Works Depot.

Fittingly, the depot has now been named in his honour.

Mayor Peter Flannery said it was a well-deserved tribute to Barry’s lifelong service to the community.

Most skilled

“Barry was one of Council’s most skilled and certainly most experienced operators, with an extensive local knowledge that proved critical during the flood response in 1974,” Mayor Flannery says.

“Starting work in 1967 as a fresh-eyed 17-year-old, Barry has witnessed 16 prime ministers, the Australian population more than doubling, the internet and the take-off of commercial aviation during his time at Council.

“The world has changed dramatically, but one thing remained; Barry’s loyalty to serving the community he calls home.”

Missing his mates

Barry says he saw many changes in his 53 years working with Council, having started at the council depot at Dayboro before moving to the Water Board at Petrie and finally to the Works Depot at Dayboro.

“After about three years at Petrie I started using the backhoe,” Barry says.

“I kept on driving the backhoe at Dayboro, digging pips and drains and clearing crossings in the floods.”

He says he’s missing his workmates and would go back in a heartbeat, but at 70 it was time to hang up his boots.

“I’m not getting any younger,” Barry laughs.

He says he and wife Betty have bought a caravan and plan to travel, visiting family and friends in the state’s north.

Family legacy

Mayor Flannery says it would be hard to imagine Dayboro without the Juffs family, because the name is synonymous with the area, from the road and bridges, to now the Barry Juffs Dayboro Works Depot.

“Barry comes from a generation that valued the importance of loyalty to a company, and that’s something special worth recognising and celebrating.

“When most people chop and change jobs every year or two, it’s rare to have a committed employee like Barry.

“To say thank you for his passion and commitment, it was only right we renamed the facility in his honour.”

Local knowledge

Councillor Darren Grimwade (Div 11) says he wishes Barry all the best in his retirement, after he stopped driving his beloved backhoe in the middle of this year.

“After more than five decades of work, I doubt Barry will be able to let his hands sit idle so I wish him all the best in this next chapter of life,” Cr Grimwade says.

“His intricate local knowledge of the Dayboro region is second to none, with decades of wisdom under his tool belt.

“Which is something he’s been able to gain from working with his father in his early years, to passing it onto his son more recently.

“I know Barry’s vivacious smile and enthusiasm that he brought to work every day will be sorely missed by many at the depot.”