Farming has been in the Nenke family since 1914. These days the family’s business, Cambinata Yabbies, has interests in wheat, barley and lupins, along with sheep agistment. But its main source of income is from Cambinata Yabbies with live, frozen and value-added freshwater crustaceans sold nationally and internationally. Eight members of the Nenke family are directly involved with the business.
Colgan Industries Pty Ltd
Commercial heritage restoration has proved to be a successful niche for Colgan Industries. One of the company’s most recent awards was the 2003 MBA Building Excellence Awards Restoration – Kimberley/Pilbara for work it undertook on stages one and two of the Sacred Heart Church in Beagle Bay. The company recently expanded its operations to include the development and operation of an eco-friendly backpackers’ hostel. It employs five family members.
Edwards Hot Water
Edwards Hot Water specialises in commercial and residential hot water systems using a variety of energy sources. It has established its business in 50 countries around the world. The business was established in 1963 by Alan Edwards, whose idea it was to use a kerosene-burner to heat water. Only one member of the Edwards family remains directly involved in the business.
Gavin Construction
Gavin Construction is a multi-award winning, family-owned construction company. It has grown, over the past 35 years from its origins in the residential market to break in to the industrial and commercial markets. Two family members are directly involved with the business. The company won the second-generation category in last year’s FBA Awards.
Halco Tackle Company
Halco Tackle manufactures highly regarded plastic and metal fishing lures for the Australian and global markets. It is a household name to anglers around the world. The business employs four members of the Patrick family. The greatest adversity the company has faced in the past few years has come from growth, with demand outstripping supply.
Homestyle Vegetable Processors Pty Ltd
Homestyle is one of Western Australia’s leading suppliers of fresh processed fruit and vegetables, mayonnaise, dressing and fresh salads. The company sources its produce from local suppliers. Its clients include Kailis and France Foods, Pizza Hut, Coles, KFC, Hungry Jacks and the Health Department of WA. The business ownership is shared equally between four members of the Merenda family. It is a previous FBA winner.
Limnios Property Group
Established in 1969 by Atha Limnios, the Limnios Property Group specialises in project marketing, development, property consultancy, general real estate sales and property management, largely within a 10 kilometre radius of the Perth CBD.
The 35-year-old company is involved with the Northbridge Urban Renewal Project and has advised the East Perth Redevelopment Authority and property developer Australand on developments.
There are five Limnios family members involved with the business.
JJ Hawkins and Company Pty Ltd
Established in 1967 by Joseph Hawkins with a Holden car and a trailer, JJ Hawkins now boasts a fleet of 24 trucks and 40 employees. Besides offering transport services to the mining, manufacturing and agricultural sectors, the company has also diversified into loader work, shed cleaning, warehousing and agricultural lime mining. Four Hawkins family members work in the business.
Keys Bros Removals and Storage
Keys Brothers provides relocation services to the corporate, government and private sectors. The company operates out of both Perth and Kalgoorlie. It employs six family members. The business is owned by the Relocation Unit Trust, which is made up of a small group of the Gill and D’Adamo families. One year ago the business added international removals to its suite of services.
MSA Security
MSA is the largest independently owned and operated security company in Western Australia. It provides mobile patrols, static guard and alarm response services in Perth. Owned and operated by the Dennison family, the business employs about 270 people. MSA started in 1989 with the purchase of the operating arm of Mirrabooka Security Agents and has grown through acquisitions, including the guard operations of Consolidated Security Services.
Purcher International Pty Ltd
Purcher was established in 1967 under a franchise agreement with International Harvester Company, selling agricultural machinery and trucks. The company now represents CaseIH, Iveco Trucks, Fuso Trucks (Mitsubishi), Marshall Spreaders, Kubota Tractors, Simplicity and Farm Scan. The business employs three family members.
Rottnest Express Pty Ltd
Rottnest Express is a cruise, ferry and charter operator servicing Rottnest Island, running Swan River Cruises between Perth and Fremantle and also whale-watching tours. The company caters to both the domestic and international markets. The business employs eight family members. The business acquired its main competitor, Boat Torque, two years ago.
Superline
Superline is a Western Australian manufacturing company, formed by the Atkinson family, specialising in the plastics, lighting and signage industries. The business, which recently turned 50, makes a range of household and industrial plastic products. It employs four family members. Some of its key wins over the past three years include securing major contracts such as Lotterywest, Red Rooster, PMS, Coromal Caravans and Huntleigh Healthcare.
Testing & Commissioning Services Pty Ltd
TACS has been offering electrical maintenance and condition monitoring services to various industries for 23 years. The business has grown from a three-person operation to a modern laboratory with 20 staff in Belmont, established branches in Indonesia and Malaysia and agents in Saudi Arabia and Singapore. The business was established by Wally Ciupryk. His partner, Helen Scott, and daughter, Lorica Storey, are also directly involved in its running.
The Loose Leaf Lettuce Company
Deanne and Simone Dobra started the Loose Leaf Lettuce Company in 1996. In a somewhat unusual turn of events their parents, Barry and Maureen, and brother Kevan ‘inherited’ the business in 1998. Sales for the gourmet salad mix maker have skyrocketed. Seven members of the family are involved in the business. While the company does not export directly, it sells produce to wholesalers who in turn export to Singapore and Mauritius.
