Loyal and dedicated worker rewarded after 50 years of service

When Keith Pavey clocked in for work at Berg Engineering in Brendale on Tuesday morning, he thought it would just be like any other day.

But little did he know his bosses had a surprise double celebration planned to coincide with Berg Engineering’s 50th anniversary and Keith’s 50 years of service.

In front of his colleagues and family, Keith was honoured for his loyalty and dedication by having a warehouse named in his honour, as well as receiving a new Ford Ranger Wild Trax from the company’s founders, Roger and Pam Berg.

Speaking to Moreton Daily, Keith said he was shocked and a little lost for words at the kind gesture.

“I wasn’t expecting this at all,” Keith said.

“I’m really amazed at what Roger and Pam have done and feeling really proud to work for Berg Engineering – they have always been a great company to work for.”

Keith became the company’s first employee when he first met Roger Berg in 1972.

He was hired as a fitter and turner and worked with Roger out of a Brisbane garage when the company first started.

As the company grew, the business moved into a shed on the northside before outgrowing that and moving into its current premises at Terrence Rd, Brendale, in 1987.

In his five decades working at the company, Keith has clocked up just over 109,000 hours, which is the equivalent of 64 years of service for the average person.

Keith works on one of the biggest machines at the company, and processes 300 jobs a year which can be as large as a car.

“I enjoy everything I do here - it’s a job where you are constantly learning because every job is different,” Keith said.

“If I didn’t enjoy it, I wouldn’t be here.

“Berg Engineering has been a great company to work for because they look after me as much as I help them out.”

Above: Keith Parvey has been working at Berg Engineering since he was a teenager. He has now notched up 50 years of service. 

A good mate to all 

Berg Engineering CEO Derek Berg, who is the son of Roger and Pam, said to have a successful business you must have great staff like Keith.

“Keith came to my father as a teenager and worked on the machines in a garage and helped my father to build the business into what it is today – one that employees around 200 people and operates in four countries around southeast Asia,” Derek said.

“Keith has always been a very loyal and committed employee, and no company can become successful without those kinds of employees.”

Berg Engineering General Manager Shannon Jansen, who flew down from the company’s office in Gladstone for the event, said Keith was an inspiration to all employees.

“Keith is great in helping the younger generation as he spends a lot of time with them and passes on his years of knowledge to them all,” Shannon said.

“He plays a pivotal role in the company, and I hope he will be here for a little while longer.

“When the time comes for Keith to think about retiring, he will definitely leave a big hole here in the company.”

See more photos from the day in our gallery below.

50 years of engineering solutions

Founded in 1972, Berg has grown from humble beginnings as a single-room operation to a multi-million-dollar Australian-owned and second-generation, family-run business.

The company started off making garbage bin axels, but today delivers a diverse range of machining, fabrication, welding and reverse engineering services to major companies across Australia and the Asia Pacific.

Some of the industries which Berg Engineering are involved in include oil and gas, power (traditional and renewables), coal mining, water utilities, rail, defence, civil and general engineering.