Liberty Rural Bowen employs both the best of modern and old-fashioned methods to serve its rural community – and they’ve been doing it for close to a decade in the Whitsundays.
With their new premises on Peter Delemonthe Road, the business is keeping alive the traditions of the long-gone milkman with their deep connection to the community and friendly-face style service, merging the past with the backing and technology of a present, modern major wholesaler.
Depot Area Manager Scott Prosser said the company - which services the region’s railway with bulk fuel, distributes oil to farms across a massive swath of land, and is a proud supplier of businesses across Bowen – has quickly become a pillar of the local community.
“Of our employees here, every one of them lives locally,” Mr Prosser said.
“For Liberty, it’s a case of supporting the town that is supporting us. Professionally, what we have to offer is that top level of service you can have from the biggest companies, but then we maintain the community-minded approach of a small business.
“I’ve lived here for 16 years, and as long as I've been with Liberty, we have made sure to give to Bowen with sports sponsorships and event sponsorships and more. For us, it's just common sense."
Driver Coordinator Ken Pankhurst said the outlet is the only oil stockist in Bowen, covering Ayr down to Proserpine, and is planning to expand from its already substantial 43 thousand litres of oil on hand to provide for its massive distribution radius.
“There’s not a lot of oil you need that we don’t have in stock,” Mr Pankhurst said.
“When we speak to farmers and they need something A.S.A.P, then we’re your guys. No one knows when they’ll blow a hydraulic line or something like that, and we can get it to you anytime with our 24-hour on-call service. “
Whether they be providing wholesale for retailers, or helping your average Joe, Liberty Rural Bowen act as the “old-school style distributor,” Mr Prosser said.
“The way I describe it is the style where you’re talking to someone on the phone from Liberty Rural Bowen, or popping in to see us, and you know it’s a person with knowledge of the local area,” Mr Prosser said.
“You know that they're the ones directing the trucks, making sure they get to where they're going. And it also extends to in-person; if you drop by to have a cuppa and a chinwag with us, that’s the traditional way we like to do business.
"Someone might ring and say: 'Bob needs a bit of oil,' and we know exactly who and where Bob is because we're as local as they come."
Liberty Rural Bowen Depot Area Manager Scott Prosser and Driver Coordinator Ken Pankhurst outside the Liberty Oil – Bowen depot
