This year we featured hydration and healthy eating by distributing 1.5 litre water bottles and kicking off with a healthy lunch for all staff on Monday 24th.

Thursday 27th was Junk Food Free day where the TEN team keenly snacked on platters of fresh fruit provided by TEN.

Each morning TEN staff met for half an hour to participate in educational sessions on Health & Safety, taking part in activities, viewing videos, and discussing our Workplace Health & Safety policies. Activities included housekeeping of all areas, training in emergency evacuation procedures, identifying first aid officers and first aid kit locations, completing a TEN Safety culture survey, and Health trivia.

The week was wrapped up with Cameron Meekin, Operations Manager of BBUGL JV (Balfour Beatty), guest speaking on his safety experience within the industry and announcing of our Safety Champion of the year for 2011 Linda Tardif. Linda’s outstanding commitment to safety at TEN includes her participation on the Safety Committee, obtaining First Aid Training, identifying a number of potential hazards and working to correct them throughout the year. Linda is always looking out for team members and the safety of others TEN and is congratulated on being the Safety Champion for the second year running.

TEN would also like to make a special mention to team member Gavin who spoke about his own experience as a teenage apprentice, witnessing a horrific injury to a fellow apprentice that impacted his life long attitude towards safety.

A recent article in the weekend paper sparked his interest with a severe workplace injury suffered by a young woman. Gavin spoke in depth about the long term impacts on these people, and the impact of loved ones around them. These stories in turn have helped shape his ideas on safety in the workplace.

Safety is the number one policy at TEN Group, and Managing Director Corey Scott is thanked for his 100 per cent commitment in ensuring the safest possible workplace spaces across all departments at TEN.

After a cold start to the morning the team warmed up quickly with the runners finishing within the 1 hour time frame and our own Andrew Scott and James Brown setting the pace for the team at 53 and 56 minutes respectively, followed closely by our Managing Director Corey Scott in at 64 minutes. The joggers and walkers soaked up more of the second Sunday of Spring all coming in within 2 hours.

After outstanding fundraising efforts by all involved the total tally came in at $11,781 donated directly to the McGrath Foundation. This set the TEN-A-BREAST team as the second highest team fundraiser in all of Brisbane. ‘Initially we set the target to beat last year’s fundraising total of $7,800. Then we hit $8K a week out from the race and thought we could maybe go to $10K. That happened overnight, so by the Wednesday before the race we were still climbing!’ said Sales & Marketing Manager James Brown.

As part of TEN’s corporate social responsibility program, TEN have nominated the McGrath Foundation as their charity of choice. TEN has a strong reach into rural and regional Australia through our demonstration van visits to utility depots and mines. In many cases these industries are major employers in rural and regional centres and present a great opportunity for TEN to help spread the McGrath Foundation message.

Breast cancer is a disease that affects both sexes, making it vitally important to help raise money to place McGrath Breast Care Nurses in the community to support people diagnosed with breast cancer and their families, as well as educating younger women to be breast aware, as early detection saves lives.

The McGrath Foundation was founded by Jane and Glenn McGrath after Jane’s initial recovery from breast cancer. The McGrath Foundation aims to raise money to place McGrath Breast Care Nurses throughout rural and regional Australia as well as educating young women to be breast aware.

‘We were not expecting so many generous sponsorships for our great cause. Donations and support are incredibly appreciated by all of us at TEN, and made us all put that extra bit in during the run,’ Managing Director Corey Scott stated. ‘What’s great also is the teamwork involved in such an event. It brings people from all walks of life together and all they have to do is give up a Sunday morning and exert a bit of energy!’

The team celebrated after crossing the finish line with a big breakfast and game of bowls at the Boo Bowls Club, Newstead.

As part of the Queensland Government Workplace Health and Safety Medium Sized Business Initiative, TEN underwent an audit conducted by a Divisional Inspector to identify compliance to five key safety system elements.

Due to the Managing Directors commitment and staff involvement to the company health and safety vision "We all go home from work without injury or illness" TEN attained a near perfect score. The Divisional Inspector was so impressed that copies of programs and policies were taken to be used a best practice bench marking within the Medium Sized Business market.

Keeping in alignment with the organisations safety vision is the implementation of an integrated health, safety and quality management system, with the first stage of AS4801 auditing commencing in May 2011.

With the positive feedback from the Divisional Inspector and the management commitment displayed, TEN is well and truly on their way to achieving AS4801 accreditation.

Surprise special guest Clowns Peebo and Dagwood kicked off the week with the underlying theme of ‘Live Life, Love Life and Laugh’. These identical twin brothers entered the room full of charisma and energy, head to toe in clown suits performing magic tricks and stunts before removing their makeup to reveal their real life story of cystic fibrosis and their daily victories and struggles with the disease.

These inspiring brothers Peter and David reminded us that we all have the power to make a difference, as long as we are willing to seek out and grasp opportunities with both hands, but most importantly to enjoy what we are doing while we are doing it! Organ donation gave both Peter and David a second chance at life that they see is a gift to be cherished. Although both have endured a lifetime of heartache and loss through their disease, their optimism is truly inspirational, and they left team TEN motivated for the week ahead.

TEN’s DOING week involves all Departments of TEN with presentations and updates from HR, Sales & Marketing, Product Development, Finance and Operations. A key focus at TEN is always Safety and Operations Manager Lloyd Smith provided hands on training to all staff members as the TEN team move toward their goal of AS4801 accreditation, encompassing an integrated health, safety and quality management system.

Staff Awards were announced towards the end of the week, and congratulations must go to our overall Employee of the Year as voted by fellow employees – James Brown. James received the award for his contribution as TEN’s Marketing Manager for 2010/11, with his outstanding coordination of the TEN 2011 Product Catalogue. James recently moved into the role of National Sales & Marketing Manager.

To culminate the week’s hard work, the entire team was whisked away to a top secret location on Saturday. As the doors swung open at Wilsons Boat Harbour Restaurant, the TEN Team were delighted to see a Masterchef style challenge in waiting, with five benches and five BBQ’s, and let’s just say – the sabotage started immediately!

TOP - Employee of the Year Award recipients with Directors - L to R:
Corey Scott, Lloyd Smith, Louise Geoghegan, Ian Scott, Linda Tardif, James Brown (Overall 2010/11 Winner), Greg Witty and Andrew Scott.
BOTTOM LEFT - Peebo & Dagwood pay a visit
BOTTOM CENTRE - Masterclass for Team TEN
BOTTOM RIGHT - Safety Training