“The preventative maintenance we do keeps the whole place running. I want the apprentices to know how important their role is – to be proud of their work and proud of where they work.”
Pat grew up in Nowra, and like many kids finishing school at 14, he was looking for what came next. The navy sounded like a great option, but it was in high demand at the time. Instead, Pat moved to Wollongong to start work at the Steelworks.
“I was billeted with a lovely lady, Mrs. Rodriguez, who couldn’t speak English – she was Spanish. Her daughter could, though, and they looked after me for my first few years out of home,” Pat recalls.
Without a licence, Pat got around on skateboards, push bikes, buses, and trains. He soon started his apprenticeship and was lucky enough to be mentored by a few smart tradesmen who took him under their wing. That early support gave him a solid foundation for the rest of his career.
After working at John Jefferies and Ingrams, Pat was invited to join Nowchem by John Senior – father of the company’s current Managing Director, also John – who knew Pat’s dad.
“That was back when there were only about 15 people working here. I’m coming up to 30 years now. Back then, we just had a shed and a shorter-roofed factory. It’s grown a lot since, but it’s still the same family-orientated business it’s always been.”
Pat says the supportive culture is one of the things that makes Nowchem special. “John looks after the people here. If anyone’s having a family problem, he’s there to lend a hand. You can talk to him about anything. At Christmas parties, the kids are always included – and John used to even dress up as Santa.”
Now, with three decades of experience, Pat is looking to the future. His role is a varied one, and finding the right person to take over won’t be easy.
“It’ll need to be someone mechanically minded, but also with boilermaker and metal fabricator skills. I do plumbing work with PVC and stainless steel too. More importantly, we need people with the right attitude about safety. You could hurt yourself pretty badly in this kind of work if you’re not switched on – that’s something I take very seriously.”
For Pat, training apprentices and seeing them grow is one of the most rewarding parts of the job. “The preventative maintenance we do keeps the whole place running. I want the apprentices to know how important their role is – to be proud of their work and proud of where they work.”
Nowchem is truly a family affair for Pat. “My two sons work here – one as a metal fabricator and the other as a plant operator. Over the years, all four of my kids have worked here. They’ve all grown up down by the water – surfing, bodyboarding, swimming in rivers and under waterfalls. Now I’m introducing my grandkids to it too. We’ve got a few secret spots we love, and it’s just an easy place to raise a family. I’m looking forward to taking them off the parents’ hands at the end of Sept for a few nights – it’ll be fun”
Nowchem is seeking a skilled Welder/Fabricator Maintenance Technician to support the ongoing performance, reliability and safety of their plant systems and equipment. This is a hands-on role with plenty of variety, ongoing challenges, and the chance to make a real impact in a high-performing, innovative business.
For experienced tradespeople considering their next move, Pat has a clear message: Nowchem offers not just a job, but a community, a career, and a lifestyle. It’s also a wonderful place to raise a family – surrounded by rivers, beaches, and bushland, with plenty of space for kids to grow up connected to nature.
