Over the last six months all Kennedy’s team members have been given the opportunity to provide input into developing the values they believe are important for our business.

We wanted to make Kennedy’s an even better place to work whilst continuing to improve the services that we provide to our clients.

Our experienced advisor Tony Watt guided us through a series of workshops to understand the values important for both our employees and our clients. Unlocking the rich pool of talent within our people has been an enlightening and wonderful experience for all at Kennedy’s. Consequently we have all agreed the following six values are Our Way.

1.            SAFETY! SAFETY! SAFETY!  

The safety of our people, contractors, suppliers and products for our clients is our most important value.

2.         Respecting Family Commitments.

As a family friendly company we understand and respect the importance of the family unit as each of our valued people’s first priority.

3.         Listening Respectfully. 

Throughout our business the willingness to listen carefully and with respect at all levels is fundamental. 

4.         Seeking Continuous Improvement.

We are always on the lookout for better ways to do things in our business.  Across everything we do, each employee asks “can we do it better for our clients?” 

5.         Working as Trusted, Organized and Winning Teams.

We have a number of specialised teams all committed to being the best they can be in satisfying the needs of our clients.

6.         Showing Thanks. 

Every member of the Kennedy’s team is encouraged to both give and accept thanks and never take things for granted.

Kennedy’s world class eco-sustainable timber processing facility at Narangba was officially opened on 23rd June 2007.

Representatives from Federal, State and Local Government together with timber and environmental organisations planted a row of historic Wollemi Pine Trees to commemorate the opening.

The site is the first of its kind in Australia to incorporate a purpose built resource recovery centre, timber research and testing laboratory (NATA approved), energy efficient kiln drying, resawing and profiling operation. The site also has a timber museum including a retail showroom and timber display area.

This world class facility has EPA approvals and environmental management plans to accept, receive and process all recycled timbers. The opening of this complex has also allowed Kennedy’s to provide suppliers with a chain of certification in managing recycled timbers. This was something Energex were keen to take advantage of in awarding the timber pole recycling contract to Kennedy’s (more details in the next edition of AGAINST the GRAIN).

Many architects, designers, builders and home owners who have visited the site have been impressed to see the exacting detail Kennedy’s staff go to with preparing each order.

The site is located just 25 minutes north of the Brisbane Airport and is easily accessible from the Bruce Highway. With a rich collection of unique and rare recycled timbers, lovers of timber will find it an easy place to get to but a hard place to leave!!

To book yourself on the next personalised tour of our facility please email Nancy
at admin@kennedysagedtimbers.com.au or phone 1300 788 884.

The Albion Flour Mill was built in 1930 in inner city Brisbane. The site is perched high on the hill overlooking the CBD. The developer of the site FKP was keen to ensure a sustainable deconstruction was undertaken during the recent demolition.

FKP contracted Gumdale Demolition to deconstruct the building to a tight budget whilst maximizing the quantity of reusable materials salvaged from the deconstruction. The deconstruction was completed in April 2007 and yielded some of the finest timber received at Kennedy’s for many years. The project also received wide radio, TV, press coverage and industry recognition. Harry Copeland from Brisbane City Council was thrilled at how this landmark building was deconstructed in a new manner with over 85% of the materials from the site being diverted away from landfill.

Unique and rare red mahogany tongue and groove flooring, together with fully seasoned large structural floor joists (remilled into magnificent wide flooring or for a special joinery project) are now exclusively available from Kennedy’s. To see the rich warm patina that time and the fine grains of flour have brought to these historic timbers, either visit our Narangba facility or you can email Nancy at admin@kennedysagedtimbers.com.au and request that a sample of this magnificent timber be posted to you.

FKP intend on including some of the original large timber pieces when redeveloping the site.For more information on how architect Richard Kirk has designed the redevelopment of this site visit www.themillalbioncom.au and for more information on sustainable demolition visit www.gumdaledemolition.com.au or contact Trevor on 0413 776 671.

Kennedy’s is pleased to announce the launch of the new fully accredited Six Star Recycled Timbers. 

The range of certified timbers available includes:  large structural seasoned timbers, dressed joinery timbers, engineered flooring, residential and commercial flooring and decking. All the timber is graded to the new industry standards for recycled timber by Kennedy’s qualified timber graders. Independent certification is provided with each timber order.

Many architects and designers are pleased that they are now able to specify recycled timber from a supplier who has a full accreditation and certification program.

The Green Star recycled timber is available EXCLUSIVELY from Kennedy’s.

So next time you are designing a project why not use timber which has a more positive environmental footprint because at Kennedy’s quality timber will not cost OUR earth.

For more info on our certification please visit www.kennedysagedtimbers.com.au and click the link on certification. You can also check out the International Forest Stewardship Council web site at www.fsc.org/en/about or Timber Queensland has a guide to buying green timber at www.timberqueensland.com.au 

Did You Know....Kennedy’s Six  Star Green Timbers store carbon and are greenhouse gas friendly!

The National Capital Authority were looking for recycled timber to be used in the Old Parliament House Rose Garden Project. This timber required the ability to last more than a lifetime in the harsh exposure of Canberra’s variable climatic conditions. BA Lentfer, building contractors, were commissioned to conduct an Australia wide search of all the recycled timber suppliers across Australia. Kennedy’s extensive range and ability to deliver on their promises were key factors in being chosen by the principal Mr. Brett Lentfer.

Timber used in these projects were sourced from the demolition of the Mackay Wharf circa 1939.

Rob Tingal Principal Architect for the National Capital Authority, specified recycled timber in the project as it was in a heritage precinct and the large dimensional sizes of the timbers were not available in seasoned sustainable timber from any other source.

Mr. Tingal was “very happy with the quality of timber. Right from day one when it arrived on site we were impressed with the standard of the timber delivered to us”.

The nearby Commonwealth Place Project also made extensive use of recycled timber supplied by Kennedy’s. Mr. Tingal commented that “the use of recycled timber in this project exceeded our expectations with the original design outcomes. It gave the project a particular appeal and visual gravity”.

The design team responsible for these projects demonstrated great vision in designing and specifying recycled timbers for use in these landmark projects. If you would like to know more about these projects visit
www.oldparliamenthouse.gov.au

Kennedy’s was chosen to supply the timbers for the Belfry and Central Tower atop the main roof of St John’s Cathedral Brisbane.

The Dean of Brisbane, the Rev. John Parkes was keen to see the trusses constructed traditionally – just as the original architect John Pearson would have wanted. He asked the project manager, Terry McCallum, to find a company who could supply the recycled fully seasoned timber, to the exacting standards required, on time and to a tight budget.

Mr. McCallum said that despite being disappointed by promises from several recycled timber suppliers, Kennedy’s Classic Aged Timbers came to the party with a competitive bid, promising to meet the program with all the timber required and to meet the tight specification. Terry was thrilled with the high quality of the timber supplied and “highly commended the work attitude of all Kennedy’s staff and management. Your assistance and on time delivery will make the completion of St John’s Cathedral a reality”.

Each piece of timber was independently inspected, certified and graded by Kennedy’s experienced staff, together with Ewan Brown from Timber Queensland.

One of the Kennedy’s sawmilling team believes he is “excused from attending church on Sunday for the next few years as he spent every day of the last six weeks working with this HOLY timber”– (true story) although I am not sure Rev. Parkes would agree!!!

The Hon. Robert Schwarten, MP, Minister for Public Works, Housing and Information and Communication Technology visited as the final premium recycled timber beams were being graded by Timber Queensland. Mr. Schwarten was most impressed to see Kennedy’s premium recycled timber go into another “cathedral” – the other one being Suncorp Stadium where, in 2003, 42 kilometers of timber battens where installed to surround this “cathedral” with recycled timber. Recent policy changes by the Queensland Government now see Queensland on track to lead the nation in timber recycling initiatives.