Sunday, February 16, 2025

Farewell Shaz!

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Additional contribution: MiniJumbuk

Twenty-seven years and 2.2 million boxes later, Sharon Drabsch has called it a day.

Shaz, as her colleagues call her, ends her 27-year career as a box maker at the MiniJumbuk in Naracoorte at the end of this month.

The 46-year-old with special abilities is not only a box maker but also a beacon of hope to those with special needs in the community.

“I did it. You can do it—just go for it,” she shared, smiling during an interview with The [Naracoorte] News. Shaz’s contribution to the wool industry has been labelled as “remarkable” by her colleagues.

A rough estimate by MiniJumbuk on the number of boxes Shaz had made over her 27 years at the factory averages 78,000 per year, around the 2.2 million mark over 27 years.

“Each box has three passes of tape to construct, this equates to 6.6 million passes, and at an average length of 90 cm per pass, that’s about 5,940,000km of tape, the equivalent of a round trip between Naracoorte and Adelaide a whopping 8,500 times,” the company shared.

Shaz’s journey

Sharon was born in Kadina in 1978. Her family moved to Naracoorte in 1981 as Sharon’s father got a job transfer to the Naracoorte High School as the Ag teacher.

Sharon’s mum was born and raised in Naracoorte. Sharon has a brother and sister and is a proud aunt to their children.

Sharon went to Naracoorte South Primary School, then on to Naracoorte High School.

Like most of the students who are at high school, Sharon would need to complete some work experience. She came to MiniJumbuk for her work experience and displayed a great attitude, showed competence, and was very productive.

Before her week of work experience ended, Don Wray, who was the owner/founder of MiniJumbuk, approached Sharon and offered her a job with the company.

According to MiniJumbuk, Don always said how great Sharon’s work ethic was, and he loved to see her every time he came back to Naracoorte.

Sharon started her job at MiniJumbuk on the 1st of September 1997. She started off by doing a bit of computer work, then just kitchen duties, and as her hours extended, Sharon started doing a mixture of roles, making boxes in the factory, setting up smoko and packing up dishes, putting the dishwasher on, checking the mail, and going to do the grocery shopping at Foodland weekly.

Sharon has a great rapport with all her colleagues, her love for SANFL footy brings great banter amongst everyone.

“She has a great memory she knows who everyone follows in football, remembers our (staff) children’s names, knows what our interests are, and loves having a chat.

“Sharon has always supported all MiniJumbuk’s events by going to our yearly MJ Races and MJ golf days, being a caddy for David Parkin was a big highlight,” the company added.

Sharon’s mum said, “Don was a great support to Sharon and as her family, and we are so grateful for this”.

Sharon is starting a new chapter in Adelaide and leaving the company with fond memories and best wishes.

The Naracoorte News 11 December 2024

This article appeared in the Naracoorte News.

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