Burbank Views Issue 15

rIn this issue...

• Burbank First Choice - Meridian Project

• Spotlight on the Darwin

• Stimulus Proves Beneficial

• Grants, Boosts and Bonuses

• Wine Review

• Warm and Sustainable

• Burbank at Reflections

• Supplier Spotlight - Hynes

• The Display Experience [Part II]

• Feather your Nest - making your home cosy

• New Display Openings

• Formica Product Review

• Global Corporate Challenge

• Burbank has grown but some things never change

• Recipe - Garden Friendly Winter Soup

7-star sustainable market leader

Call 13 BURBANK (13 2872) www.burbank.com.au

Issue 15 - Winter 09

Burbank GroupNewsletterBURBANK VIEWS

Burbank Nominated as Preferred Builder for VicUrban’s Meridian Project in Dandenong

7-StarBurbank anticipates completion of the Meridian project early next year.

Ros Smail, Senior Estimator of Burbank Projects, was delighted to see Burbank nominated as the preferred builder for the VicUrban Meridian Project, a Sustainable Living Centre, open to both the public and industry.

“Burbank already leads the industry in sustainable building practices. This project not only continues the process, it will provide and contribute knowledge and innovation to the industry and give Mother Nature a little less to worry about,” she said.

The 6 homes were designed by 4 individual architects. The homes will be tested for built performance and will gauge market feedback while demonstrating the benefits of sustainable building strategies to builders, suppliers and the general public, including schools.

The 4 detached homes and 2 attached terraces are designed to present good value, accessible and adaptable design features and 7-Star energy efficient strategies.

The project is situated at Meridian Estate, Dandenong, close to Metro 3175, a successful development just outside of Dandenong’s CBD. Burbank has completed a number of projects at nearby Metro Village 3175, which is also the home of Burbank’s South East Regional Office.

spotlight on the darwin

7-Star Energy Efficient (including double glazed windows, gas-boosted solar hot water, rainwater tank and high level of insulation)

Four bedrooms & two bathrooms

Vaulted ceiling to kitchen/meals

Space wise with clever use of storage

Designed to fit a 14.5m block width and is also suitable for corner blocks

Darwin 2700

stimulus proves beneficial to domestic economy

“In the March Quarter, Australia was the fastest growing economy in the OECD group of developed countries. And we are the only major advanced economy not to have fallen into recession at this point.”

Glenn Stevens, Governor (Monetary Policy) at the Reserve Bank of Australia suggested the pick up in housing credit demand suggests stronger dwelling activity is likely later in the year.

In his June 2 statement he notes, “the considerable economic policy stimulus in [place] in most countries is helping to contain the downturn, and should support an eventual recovery.”

For current promotions, display centre details, floorplans, virtual tours and more, check out our website at www.burbank.com.au or call 13 BURBANK (13 2872).

Chelsea facade

7-Star

tThe Darwin, on display at Burbank’s Display Centres at Marriott Waters, Lyndhurst and Reflections Estate, Tarneit, is another exceptional Future Collection home designed using a combination of green design strategies and carefully selected, energy efficient products and materials.

A centrally placed feature brick wall provides ‘thermal mass’, a design approach used to maintain comfortable temperatures in winter and summer, reducing the need for artificial heating and cooling. The rear section of the floor plan can also be mirrored to make the most of the sun’s orientation.

Nominated as a finalist in this year’s HIA Boral GreenSmart Award for Project Home of the Year, the Darwin’s design offers three façade options to allow home buyers the choice between a traditional and contemporary appearance, fitting in well with most developer’s guidelines.

iIn a speech to the Australian Industry Group, Prime Minister Rudd suggested while the Australian economy is not yet ‘out of the woods’, measures to stimulate the housing sector have significantly boosted construction activity.

The Government introduction of $2 billion First Home Owners Boost resulted in building approvals falling only 16 percent in Australia, in contrast to 38 per cent in Canada, 50 per cent in the US and 57 per cent in New Zealand.

“Across the developed world, only 3 of 33 advanced economies recorded positive growth in the March Quarter. Australia was one of those countries – growing at 0.4 per cent in the first quarter,” he said.

BURBANK VIEWS WINTER 2009

grants, boosts and bonuses for first home buyers continues

Jarrod Sanfilippo, Associate Director of Burbank, sees the grant has made a positive impact, bringing first home buyers back into the market leading to an increase in home sales.

“First home buyers had been forced out of the market due to the affordability issue. The Grant has made the difference, allowing most to be able to achieve the dream of owning their own home,” he said.

The Victory, Burbank’s latest Genesis design, has been increasingly popular with both first home buyers and investors due to its adaptable floor plans, numerous

options and choices available at a remarkably attractive price. Adding to its appeal is Burbank’s high standard of quality craftsmanship, gained from decades of experience.

Sales Director, David Borg, believes pre-qualification for loans up front through National Pacific Finance, Burbank’s own finance arm, is yet another advantage of buying a Burbank home.

“Our commitment to pre-qualification on finance makes sure clients are able to pay for their loan. Home buyers also have the security of dealing with qualified people who can offer practical guidance,” he said.

When you choose National Pacific Finance, you can be assured of the best in financial business practice. What’s more, with a large selection of lenders at their fingertips, you can expect great value.

Call 1300 367 721 or visit www.npfs.com.au.

For more information visit www.sro.vic.gov.au

tThe Federal Government Budget for 2009 – 2010 looks promising for first home buyers with a six month extension to the First Home Owners Boost Scheme. Combined with the State Government commitment to increase the First Home Bonus and Regional Bonus for the next 12 months by $6,000, regional first home buyers can strip up to $36,500 off their total home purchase. Closer into the city, you could be entitled to the combined grants and bonuses totalling $32,000. These figures are set to reduce on 1st October and again on 1st January, 2010.

burbank @See yourself at

MiNiMiSE thE AREA to BE hEAtEd. Doubling the size of the heated area also doubles running costs. Close doors to unheated areas, or hang curtains across open doorways leading to other rooms. Where central heating is installed, be careful not to shut off more than one third of the home as this will create excess pressure to the thermostat (unless your system is zoneable).

Barossa Valley2008 Shiraz

Sourced from mature vines from Barossa Valley, this Shiraz Has Beenseasoned French Oak barrels. The nose is full of black cherry, coffee, Satsuma plums and star anise, backed up by a rich, full bodied palate with soft tannins.

*CASE BUYS ONLY

$6.67*per bottle

Save $51.88 per case

*CASE BUYS ONLY

$6.67*per bottle

Pale straw Colour with green hues. Intense aromas of passionfruit, grapefruit and gooseberry. A crisp wine showing flavours of passionfruit with underlying gooseberry tones. This wine has mouth watering acidity and an intense minerality.

Marlborough - NZ2008 Sauvignon Blanc

Save $41.88 per case

AUSTRALIAN CLEANSKIN GROUPr e g i o n a l w i n e s o f t h e w o r l d

RichmondShop 1 198 - 200 Swan Street Richmond 3121

South Yarra91 Toorak Road South Yarra 3141

St Kilda80B Acland Street St Kilda 3182

Collingwood290 Smith Street Collingwood 3066

Abbotsford Wine Warehouse68 Mollison Street Abbotsford 3067

McLaren Vale 2005 ShirazAfter maturation in a mix of new and used American oak in our rammed-earth barrel cellar this latest release was bottled in June 2008. It is a deep red in colour with traces of purple, and shows spice and pepper aromas enhanced with vanilla and cedar from the oak. The palate is soft and supple with generous red fruits. The soft Tannins are well balanced by cleansing acidity which gives the wine a lovely lingering finish.

Regional Wine Special $7.50 per bottle*

Margaret River 2008 Semillon Sauvignon BlancThis crisp wine shows herbaceous aromas with grassy herbal influences blended with attractive tropical fruit on the nose. Characters of fig, honey and gooseberries, with the added effect of kiwi fruit and a spicy finish to follow through the palate. A medium bodied wine with good balance, this wine displays well developed Semillon characters.

Regional Wine Special $7.50 per bottle*

For more information visit www.acgwine.com.au

wine review

*Case Buys Only

Simple winter heating tips

The 7-Star Energy Efficient Darwin and Revolution MkII are two of Burbank’s industry leading Future Collection, designed to meet your home wish list with a lighter environmental footprint. Innovative yet stylish, these homes feature inclusions such as gas boosted solar hot water system, double-glazed windows, thermally improved aluminium window and door frames and a raintank to achieve dramatic utility bill savings in comparison to the average home in Melbourne which typically achieves a rating of 2.5-Stars.

You may be surprised to know Burbank also design an award winning range of terrace style apartments and townhouses. The first of three developments at Reflections are set to become available at any moment. Situated on Rippleside Terrace, the 16, 2 bedroom walk-up terrace style apartments are an affordable choice for first home buyers coming out of the rental market. Overlooking the ‘Wetlands’ park, these homes have their own private garden and lock up garage.

250 blocks of land sold at Reflections in less than two years suggests this well located, affordable and high quality estate is a winner in the west. You may have visited Burbank’s display centre, showcasing six stunning homes from all four of its lifestyle orientated collections.

warm and sustainable


See yourself at

USE thE hEAtER thERMoStAt coRREctly. For every degree you increase the thermostat setting, your energy bill can increase by up to 15% Set your thermostat at a temperature of around 18–20°C for living areas.

opEN Up cURtAiNS to NoRth-fAciNg wiNdowS oN SUNNy wiNtER dAyS. Make the most of the free, natural solar energy to warm your home – this is what energy efficiency is all about.

doN’t lEAvE yoUR hEAtER RUNNiNg oN low ovERNight oR whilE yoU’RE oUt dURiNg thE dAy. It’s cheaper to turn the heater OFF while you are out or sleeping, and turn it on again when you return or wake up in the morning.

cloSE yoUR dRApES ANd BliNdS whEN yoU’RE hEAtiNg, ESpEciAlly At Night. Windows are poor insulators, so they lose a lot of heat in winter. And of course keep your windows and external doors closed to keep the warm air inside the home.

National Pacific Properties General Manager, Steve Copland, said the Reflections Estate Design Guidelines are a key aspect of this well-received urban estate having been written to encourage quality streetscapes with well positioned homes. “Good positioning, with lots of natural light and connectivity between internal and external living areas, makes even a modestly sized home feel quite spacious, and will add street appeal for everyone’s benefit,” Steve said.

Having Reflections Wetlands Park within easy walking distance of every home within the estate, also adds to its appeal. The $5 million park will feature a 1.85 kilometre shared walking and cycling path, over 130,000 plants, 166 lineal metres of rock retaining walls, several fitness stations, a boardwalk, a viewing platform and two shelters containing interpretive signage referencing the fauna found within the reserve.

supplier spotlight

The original business, Hynes Tiles, was founded in 1965 as a small, family run tiling business, and, similar to Burbank, is still family owned and operated to this day. The Group’s philosophy has always been centred around three key aspects: People, Product and Service.

More recently, Unique Timber Floors, an established arm of the Hynes Group since 1994, has provided Burbank with a selection of flooring.

Associate Director of Burbank, Mr Jarrod Sanfilippo said long standing relationships with suppliers such as the Hynes Group contributes to consistently beneficial end-to-end results.

“Through years of mutual support, the Hynes Group and Burbank have grown into the strong, resilient companies we are today,” he said.

“Ensuring our homes are built to the highest of standards, relies on more than the construction process. Premium quality, visually impressive materials delivered on schedule for an affordable price allow us to create beautiful homes for our clients.”

The Hynes Group of Companies has grown to include Tilestar, The Tile People, Unique Timber Floors and Mango Design Concepts.

Burbank’s Display Centre at Reflections is situated at Reflections Boulevard, Tarneit (Melway Ref: 202 E5). For online information, virtual tours and Burbank TV, visit www.burbank.com.au or call 13 BURBANK (13 2872).

The hynes Group of Companies

A broad product range of quality products combined with reliable sales support is why Hynes has supplied Burbank with wall and floor tiles for over twenty years.

For more information, visit their website at www.hynestiles.com.au or call 03 8742 9600

what it’s all about... the display experience [part ii]Following our last issue, we are pleased to find Caroline Burge is seeing her new home come to life…

“Hi Everyone at Burbank

Wow what an experience my first 50 days of building have been. Having survived the pre-building stage of paper work and contracts (necessary but very time consuming), I finally went to site on April 1st. I did wonder if April Fools Day was a bit of an omen but my worries were unfounded. After the excitement of choosing my colours earlier in the year, nothing prepared me for the thrill of watching my house go up day by day.

It seemed almost every day something different was going on - from the excavator on Day 1, to the waffle pods, the slab, the frame, windows, roof trusses, tiles and brickwork. In just 50 days I had gone from a vacant block to lock up stage. It has also been a great learning experience - I mean, who has ever heard of ‘waffle pods’!

Everyone at Burbank has been wonderful behind the scenes. Niki (my Sales Consultant) has kept a constant interest in where I am at; Nickie and Kirra (my Administrators) have given me regular fortnightly updates; and Jay (Site Supervisor) informs me on what is going on out on site. As well as behind the scenes - the workmen have been great and have been more than helpful with answering any questions I have had.

To anyone still considering whether to build or buy, do tell them that to watch your dream house go up brick by brick is just amazing.

To date I am now up to Day 76 (and who’s counting) and everything is on track.

Keep up the good work.

Caroline (the very happy home buyer)”

f


how imporTanT is emoTion in deCoraTinG for warmTh?

It’s very emotional. As we watch our external world become increasingly unstable, our choices focus in towards providing a safe and secure personal world. There’s nothing quite as welcoming as an open fire and there are many heating options which replicate a traditional ‘open fire’ look.

whaT else Can we do To Cosy up our homes durinG winTer?Colour and texture play a big role in warming up the atmosphere of the room. Warmer tones of blue, chocolates and greys are still in favour. Whites never lose their magic when freshening up a space.

Metallics are currently gaining positive interest, heading towards texture walls with luminous colours to lift the room.

Furs, throws, rugs and cushions are ideal. This winter, you’ll find a lot of butterflies in the details of your soft furnishings, adding whimsical appeal to your spaces.

whaT abouT weT areas?The use of rust and copper with earthy tones and timber floors, all bring forward a sense of comfort and self indulgence.

whaT is The CurrenT Trend for window TreaTmenTs?

Home furnishings often follow a similar path to fashion and window treatments are no exception. In the same way as we layer clothing on our bodies, you can warm the look of a room by layering textures. The key is to keep it simple – timber shutters are popular and can be married with a pelmet and side drapes. Rollers provide an effective look for a contemporary home but by adding a soft Roman blind you’ll keep your look uncomplicated and warm.

tips to feather your nest

No matter how stylish the design, creating warmth in your home is all about the life you put into it. With some expert advice and inspiration from the Burbank Display Team’s Jacqui Mallia, this task has never been easier.

n

new display openingsat Alamanda Estate, Point Cook and Cascades on Clyde Estate, Clyde

A brand new Burbank display

location with four spectacular

Ideal Collection designs has

delighted crowds this July.

alamanda estate, point Cook

offers resort style living and

convenient travel to Melbourne’s

CBD with the advantages of

ambient surroundings, prestigious

homes, fibre optic access, a short

distance to the beach, shopping,

facilities and a central recreational

club exclusive to residents.

jJoining Burbank’s impressive 2009

rollout of displays is a line up of

four designs at Cascades on Clyde.

Located in Victoria’s South East, the

estate incorporates 14 hectares of

wetlands, open spaces and walking

tracks, while accommodating for

high-speed broadband internet

through Telstra Velocity and

delivers Class-A recycled water.

Burbank’s big and beautiful four

homes, cater for a larger family

crowd with plenty of space for

busy lives and seamless entertaining.


Merchiston 4700A grand entrance opens into a choice of elegant areas to relax with the entire ground floor and adjoining grand alfresco devoted to appeasing your lifestyle. Entertaining will be a breeze with a well thought out kitchen and butler’s pantry. Upstairs, the whole family will have sweet dreams with each of the four bedrooms serviced by its own personal ensuite and walk-in robe. The master bedroom has the addition of a large parental retreat and balconies adjoin the front and back of the floor.

freswick 2900Elaborate use of timber in the façade of this home introduces a focus on harmony from the moment you enter its welcoming porch. Raised ceilings to the entry, lounge and study enhance a sense of space and the ideal balance between well-positioned entertaining areas and indulgent spaces for retreat is beautifully presented. Separated from the main meals and entertaining area is a separate theatre room and lounge. The parental retreat and generously sized ensuite and walk-in robe to the master bedroom offer some peaceful respite after a busy day.

Stoneleigh 3800A great balance of shared and private space with the lounge and library are disconnected from the family/meals area by a central theatre allowing any number of activities to occur simultaneously with ease. The theatre can be closed off for privacy or opened for greater entertaining space. Access from the garage can be made through the service area to the walk-in pantry and kitchen. Directional flow is achieved with large voids between the floors allowing for plenty of light to fill the house. This home will leave you mesmerized and keen to visit again.

Eynesford 3200 Double the size of your entertaining area with large bi-fold doors opening the central kitchen, meals and family area into a light-filled under cover grand sala. A separated sleeping wing and private retreat to the centrally positioned master bedroom offers a comfortable, stylish escape from daily activities. A separate entrance to the master bedroom adds further advantage. A formal living room and study at the front of the home offer great possibilities for a home based office.

Merchiston 4700 Taliesin facade

Freswick 2900 Giselle facade

Eynesford 3200 Saldar facade

Stoneleigh 3800 Saldar facade

durham 2900Features a well serviced, centrally positioned kitchen with separated access to the open plan family meals area and formal dining/lounge to offer you ample entertaining choice. Access to the study from the entrance of the home is perfect for home based business owners.

Revolution MKii 2880Encompasses 7-Star energy efficiency, great use of space and all the comfort and trimmings of modern life. Featuring large, functional living spaces serviced by a centrally placed kitchen with walk-in-pantry and separated theatre and living wing, this design provides environmentally clever solutions with a stylish edge.

Barrington 3100Enjoys a balanced flow of light and air throughout. All your lifestyle needs are met with a sensational entertainment area, serviced by the ultimate, dream kitchen designed for entertaining bliss. A separate theatre, study nook and generous sleeping wing offer you a lavish retreat when you need it most.

Stoneleigh 3800 Displays a feel of time honoured grandeur with an impressive glass balustrade wrapping around the voided rear entertaining area. This home is a delight for all senses with a great balance of shared and private space, allowing any number of activities to occur simultaneously with ease. If you have visited the Rise at Lyndhurst, you’ll have met with the sublime elegance of this design already.

genesis Collection

complete CollectiontM

future Collection

ideal Collection

your lifestyle, perfectly complete

invest in your future with style

experience opulence at it’s best

practical contemporary solutions

7-Star

Displays at Alamanda...

Displays at Cascades on Clyde...

product review - formica® laminate flooring

For the Residential Collection

It integrates European style and technology with designs that cater for the Australian way of life. Formica timber-styled laminate flooring will add the warmth of timber to any home, yet it’s hardwearing and easy to care for. What’s more, our unique Forma-Lock™ locking system makes Formica Laminate Flooring easy to install. It’s unrivalled locking strength also ensures it stays in place.

Formica Laminate Flooring is one of the most comprehensive and economical flooring ranges available.

Formica Laminate Flooring has been certified as an environmentally preferable product by Good Environmental Choice Australia.

BENEfitS yoU cAN’t wAlK pAStthE looK The warmth and beauty of Formica Laminate Flooring will transform any space. Its contemporary, stylish and sophisticated timber appearance will make your home a showpiece.

thE RANgE With a range of flooring thicknesses and a wide selection of contemporary styles, colours and textures, there is a product for every floor application.

thE qUAlity Only Formica Laminate Flooring offers you Forma-Lock™. It’s our unique locking system, which locks all edges of the flooring panels firmly together giving stronger joins and greater peace of mind. The product is backed by a comprehensive limited warranty.

thE coNvENiENcE Formica Laminate Flooring is quick and easy to install with no need for glue or nails. It goes straight down over most hard surfaces and can be walked on immediately after installation.

thE AdvANtAgES Formica Laminate Flooring is actually tougher than most solid timber floors and extremely resistant to wear, scratches, stains and cigarette burns. To clean, simply wipe with a micro fibre mop – stains, dust and mites are gone. In the unlikely event that damage does occur, the flooring panel can simply be replaced. Applying a matching ColorFill™ will fix scratches immediately.

Formica Laminate Flooring consists of up to 90% natural wood fibre derived from sustainably managed forest plantations. Chlorine and PVC free, it does not contain any wood preservatives or harmful solvents.

thE vAlUE Formica Laminate Flooring is not only the most comprehensive range on the market, compared to other flooring options, easy installation means it’s one of the most economical flooring options available in Australia today.

tburbank takes the global corporate challengeThe challenge encourages teams to take part in a virtual walk around the world by tracking their steps for 125 days.

The suggested 10,000 steps a day equals around an hour and a half or 6kms of constant walking. The World Health Organisation recommends 10,000 steps a day to improve health and reduce the risk of disease.

If you’ve never tried it, using a pedometer for a week or two can give you a good idea of what your activity output is. As Shane Bilsborough of the GCC Website noted, even short spaces of inactivity can have some serious ramifications.

“Within just two days of sedentary behaviour the body’s ability to clear glucose from the blood stream is blunted. Over time, this increases the risk for Type II diabetes. Also within just one week of sedentary behaviour, fat accumulates around the stomach commencing the progression towards heart disease,” he said.

The site mentions other studies which reveal great results from the simple task of walking at least three times a week. A study of 72,488 female nurses, for example, lowered their risk of heart attack by a staggering 35% and stroke by 34%!

Walking is a great way to raise your fitness level in the simplest of ways. For some inspiration, checkout some of the walking tracks on: www.thatsmelbourne.com.au/Gettingaroundthecity/Pages/Gettingaroundbyfoot.aspx

Leading by example is Associate Director, Jarrod Sanfilippo who said the initiative is a positive way to improve the workplace health and raise awareness of some very important issues.

“The GCC is a fantastic way to raise awareness of how lifestyle can affect health. It is also a great morale booster during the winter months,” he said.


The winter months ahead are a good time to put some extra attention into keeping yourself, friends and family healthy, active and motivated. After the positive achievement in the Global Corporate Challenge last year, Burbank has sponsored five teams in this year’s event.

For more information about the Global Corporate Challenge, take a tour of the website www.gettheworldmoving.com

Urban Wanders Team (Burbank)

Burbank Business Park Aberdeen Road Altona Vic 3018 Australia Burbank Australia Pty Ltd ABN 91 007 099 872t +613 9328 0333 f +613 9328 0222 e [email protected] w www.burbank.com.au

recipe

burbank has grown but some things haven’t changed

Ingredients1 litre stock (water and 2 stock cubes will do nicely)2 medium sized onions½ cup fresh parsley chopped1 ½ cups chopped celery (stalks and leaves)Salt and pepper to seasonA handful of rice or vermicelli

MethodThrow your greens into your stock and bring to boil.

Add rice or vermicelli and season to taste.

Slow cook until rice or vermicelli is tender.

Soup to stir the inner gardener in us all

For all new home and apartment enquiries

13 BURBANK (13 2872)

For all your finance and mortgage requirements

1300 367 721

For all your self storage needs(03) 9315 9888

For all your plumbing needs1300 734 652

For all your electrical needs

(03) 9315 0887

The great thing about soup is it can be as simple or as spicy as you like and you don’t need a market garden in your backyard to grow its basic ingredients all year ‘round.

Spring onions, leeks & celery grow well in pots and tubs as long as they have good drainage and sunshine. The advantage of growing in pots is you can move them about until you find a suitable spot. Garlic, ginger and parsley are not only easy to grow, but adding them to your stock will lift the flavour and keep the winter lurgies at bay.

Have fun and experiment. Visit local nurseries, book shops and the library. If you’d like a little more space to dig, check out The Vegie Patch on the ABC’s Gardening Australia site (www.abc.net.au/gardening/features/vegiepatch.htm). This site gives you up to date information and footage of an experimental garden at the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens. The rotational vegetable patch is said to represent the size of an average Australian backyard vegie garden and there are monthly photo updates dating back to March 2007.

Garden Friendly Winter Entrée Soup

sSoup is often seen as a winter comfort food, providing good nutrition as well as much needed hydration as we turn up the heat and layer on the blankets.

From left to right: Maryann, Patricia and Janice

mMaryann Hill, Patricia Lloyd and Janice Rocco have something special in common. All three Burbank employees have seen the small family business grow into the industry leading, vertically integrated Group of Companies it is today.

Joint Managing Directors, Eddie Sanfilippo and Eddie Puhar, say Burbank is fortunate to have a growing list of employees who have been with the company for longer than ten years.

“What makes these ladies special is they were the first three employees we’ve had – I feel as if they are part of our family and I cannot tell you how grateful I am to still have them here with us,” Mr Sanfilippo said.

Mr Puhar added, “Maryann, Pat and Janice were an institution. We were a close knit group who worked through solutions for issues together. With just under 200 employees today, we are a far cry from where we were back then but it’s the experienced and dedicated people here who have made it work.”

Maryann Hill started at Slough Road in 1995.“I sometimes do miss the days when you knew everyone, your co-workers and suppliers as well as your customers,” she said.

“One thing hasn’t changed – despite the growth of the company, they (Eddie Sanfilippo and Eddie Puhar) still sit amongst us and no matter what the issue, we can still approach them.”

Patricia Lloyd says life in the early days of Burbank was much different to what you see now.

“You got in and helped out with whatever section you could. I worked in Storage, Displays, Front Desk and I’d help clean the office,” she said.

“It has been an exciting experience - watching the company grow. Eddie S would say to me, ‘Pat, it will get very big one day’ and he was right, it certain has!”

Janice Rocco said the progress of Burbank was a rapid one. “When Burbank picked up the Kensington Banks Project, the pace of growth sped up and our numbers grew overnight,” she said.

For those of us with the ambition to stay with Burbank as these ladies have, Patricia advises

“Enjoy what you do and the people you work with and have a good attitude towards work because it flows through to the community.”

Eddie Sanfilippo adds with a smile, “My ambition is to retire before they do.”

Documents

Burbank Views Issue 15