WHEN Ian Vernon locks the gates at Vernon’s Steelyard on Friday, it will be for the final time after his family served the community for 71 years.
Mr Vernon sold the business recently and will not need to wake up before dawn on Monday.
“It’s going to be quite strange,” he said.
“I’ve had a regular routine for a long time, which includes waking at 3am, having breaky and listening to country music for 30 minutes before heading to work.
“I don’t like feeling rushed in the morning so getting up early and taking my time to get to work allows me to arrive in a good frame of mind.”
Mr Vernon started work at the yard, then owned by his father Alan, 63 years ago at age 14.
He came from a long line of family members who worked with steel, some in a more traditional sense.
His great-grandfather was a blacksmith in Korong Vale at a time the railway line ran through the town.
His grandfather continued the trade, as did his father.
Alan Vernon set up Vernon’s as it is affectionately known, in humble style in 1952.
A canvas tent was a store front on the family farm at Vinifera was the first official location and, as business bloomed, operations moved to the current site in Thurla Street, Swan Hill, in 1958.
Ian Vernon became the fourth generation to work with steel and over the past 40 years the business has diversified into areas including wood heating and airconditioning.
Covering a wide area, Vernon’s trucks deliver as far north as Mildura and south to Melbourne and beyond.
Partner Claire has been at Ian’s side for 30 of those years and he credits the business’s success largely to her drive, hard work and initiative.
“I simply couldn’t have done it without her,” he said.
“She’s played a crucial part in the administration of the business and general sales.
“We sold enough wood heaters to top both state and national sales for many years.
“Through her hard work, and our staff, we were fortunate to experience many overseas trips on the back of high sales.”
While Ian has mixed feelings about the sale of the business, he has no doubt it is the right decision.
“Claire wanted to retire 10 years ago, so she was very excited when I told her of the sale,” he said.
Bede Martin and his partner Tamika Henson will take over the helm on Monday morning.
Mr Martin, a boilermaker, said the couple had aimed to buy a business in Swan Hill to be closer to family.
“We were originally looking into motels,” Mr Martin said.
“But then I popped into Vernon’s to purchase some screws and got chatting to Ian and next thing we are discussing the possibility of us buying it.
The stars lined up for both families and the timing was right for change.
Mr Martin said customers would not see too much change ahead at the yard.
“We won’t be changing what is already a very successful business,” he said.
“Our first priority will be to sort through the large amount of stock held on site and customers can expect some huge sales in coming months.”
Mr Martin expects to continue in Mr Vernon’s footsteps, with 12-hour days the norm.
Mr Vernon will provide support as required but will focus on many years’ worth of unstarted or unfinished projects at home.
The new owners will keeping all current staff.
Chances are Mr Vernon will still wake at 3am, enjoy breakfast and 30 minutes of country music at God’s hour for a while to come.
