This week I'd like to dedicate our newsletter to an outstanding achievement from one of our senior staff.  I always talk about how proud and how lucky I am to work with the people I do, especially when it comes to the effort over and above what is expected to get the job done, but seldom do we get to associate this with the local community.

I've always said, Neil's Parts people care ... They care for the job, its customers, the community, their fellow staff & their families.  You can tell when we get people that come to the group that don't have this quality because they don't last long ... That rarely happens!  If you want to work here it has to be more than just a job to you.  And it literally is, you wear way too many hats to be selfish.  I want to highlight a guy that epitomises and embodies everything I have just mentioned.

Derek "Doggie" Brown

Derek has been at Neil's since he left school and he has done everything we could have asked of him in those 29 years.  Derek has also been a member of the Corowa Apex club for the same length of time.  In that time he's also worn many hats ... But none higher than president of the club, until now ... Life Member!

I was lucky to be present to hear the awesome achievements of Doggie and the team, going from the glory days of volunteer work 20 some years ago to the lows of only scraping 3 members together and having to lie and say they had 10 to keep it open ... not only did they bring it back again and turn it around but all through this they were still able to support the local community with parks, pools, cancer centres and funding for special causes.

This is what you call a very special man, his dedication to his community, his family and friends and our company is outstanding to say the least.


Dog is a man that lives to help people, not only does he live to help us, he never asks for anything in return.  I was extremely proud to see the old members recognise Dog for his efforts, I was also humbled to see and hear them say they loved doing what they do for their community, in saying that it actually saddened me to hear they struggle to get new volunteers "members" because it's hard to get people to help for free anymore ... I hope we aren't losing this trait because that's the "Aussie" way, we help our mates, when they needs us, we do it and we get offended if we get offered payment, that's just the way we are!

Derek you are keeping this trait alive, as are many of your co workers and mates... I take my hat off to you mate, you've done an outstanding job and you well and truly deserve these accolades ... Apex will miss your leadership and we are lucky that we have another 20 odd years before you consider retirement!

Thanks for doing business with Neil's.