Community Focus Leads To Sarina Business Success

Half a century of servicing the community was celebrated by JT & PA Croyden Pty Ltd with a gala dinner for 150 attendees in Sarina recently.

Owners John and Patricia Croyden established the “Croydens” business in 1972 with the purchase of their first truck from a local business formerly Crokers Truck Centre, to service the Sarina community with landscaping and quarry supplies.

Since the heady days of employing more than 80 permanent staff, with a long list of casuals and approximately 150 pieces of equipment, the local Sarina company has built a reputation as being reliable and community-minded.

The company has held long-standing contracts with some of the region’s largest companies, including more than 45 years with BMA Hay Point Services and 30 years with Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal Pty Ltd.

At the beginning of the business, John Croyden would go to the pub on a Friday night and locals would ask for a delivery, “knowing I had a truck and no matter how many beers I had, I never forgot an order.”

“One single axle truck turned into two, and then three, and then there was a need for a bigger truck and we purchased our first tandem tipper – which was a big thing at the time,” Mr Croyden said.

Pat Croyden believes that their success has come from “working hard, and we’ve also been fortunate and making the most of the opportunity to develop the business by responding to the community’s needs”.

“We really want to thank our present and past employees, customers and the community for their support and we will continue to focus on maintaining strong business and customer relationships,” Mrs Croyden said.

Croydens General Manager Stefan Tomerini stepped into the role in 2007 following John and Pat’s retirement to “help steer the transformation of Croydens”.

“John and Pat have supported the local community and been part of developing so many local charities and clubs financially, and it humbles me to manage the Croyden empire,” Mr Tomerini said.

“What makes you successful in business is dealing with the same people, and that’s why we’ve stayed with the same suppliers.

“You get to know your supplier and they get to know you. You also get to know the product inside out.”

Volvo Group Australia is one of those suppliers, and Regional Commercial Manager Iain Allison said that the whole group were “proud and humbled” to have had such a long-term, beneficial partnership with Croydens.

“Since their first purchase of an F86 in 1979, we have had a close and successful relationship with Croydens – it’s been an honour to work with the team for so long,” Mr Allison said.

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