Donna Layton knows a thing or two about the true meaning of loyalty, commitment, and devotion.

As the General Manager of J Notaras and Sons Sawmill proudly reflects on 45 years with the local business, where she is well respected by her friends and colleagues, she said she can’t imagine being anywhere else.

“Working at J Notaras and Sons Sawmill is my first and only job,” she said.

“Both Brinos and Spiro were great mentors and treated me like family, so working life has been good.

“Most of the staff have been here for a long period of time, so we are all comfortable together which makes it a pleasant working environment.”

After commencing her professional career with J Notaras and Sons Sawmill as a junior clerk in 1978, Ms Layton quickly progressed to sales, and after completing a Bachelor of Business in 2000, she was promoted to Office Manager.

“When Brinos passed away in 2005 I took over his role, and when Spiro passed away in 2016, the family promoted me to General Manager,” she said.

“The timber industry is a wonderful industry to work in, where people are fair dinkum and happy to help each other out when needed.

“It is said that working and having timber around you is good for you and has a calming effect.

“It is environmentally friendly, stores carbon, and is renewable, so what else could you ask for.”

In 2022, Ms Layton was the recipient of the Clarence Electorate Woman of the Year Award in recognition of her strong work ethic and leadership skills which enabled the sawmill to remain in production and retain local employment during the Covid-19 pandemic and unprecedented natural disasters including severe droughts and devastating bushfires.

Her commitment to the timber industry was also recognised in 2021 when she was announced as the winner of the Dedication category at the Harvey Norman Weekly Times Shine Awards.

Related story: Announcement of agreement to sell J Notaras & Sons business and assets.

This article appeared in the Clarence Valley Independent, 1 February 2023.