Celebrating 50 years of service: Malcolm Higgins' remarkable journey
23/12/2024
This year we are thrilled to celebrate an extraordinary milestone: Malcolm “Mal” Higgins completing an incredible 50 years of service at CBH.
From humble beginnings in 1972 to becoming a beloved figure among colleagues, his journey is a testament to dedication, hard work, and the enduring value of teamwork.
Mal’s colleague and friend, CBH Operations Coordinator, Area 9, Ashton Steele spent some time with Mal reflecting on his journey, filled with unforgettable moments, valuable lessons, and plenty of laughs.
Starting out: A leap of faith in 1972
It was June in 1972 when Mal first walked through the doors of CBH, taking on the RPO role at Mount Walker.
"I was working at the butcher shop in Bruce Rock when someone told me about CBH. I applied, got the job, and haven’t looked back since,” Mal said.
At the time, the industry was vastly different, and the company itself was smaller. Charlie Burgess became his immediate supervisor that year and would become a lifelong influence.
But it wasn’t always CBH that Mal had in mind for his future when he first started out; his original plan had been to become a professional dogger (professional animal controller). However, after meeting Terri, who would later become his wife, with her support he decided to stay at CBH.
“After meeting Terri, I stayed at CBH. And here I am, 50 years later, still going strong,” Mal said.
From Senior Operator to Supervisor: A career full of variety
Throughout his five decades at CBH, Mal has taken on various roles, each one bringing new challenges and opportunities. One of his favourite roles was as a Senior Operator, where he was involved in the chemical treatment of grain.
“I really enjoyed the variety of that job. Every day was different, and I got to work with a wide range of people, especially during harvest season. It made the work exciting, and the team made it even better,” Mal said.
Mal also spent some time as a Supervisor, which provided a chance to build on his expertise and leadership. But no matter the role, the camaraderie with his colleagues has always been important.
The last six years have been some of the most enjoyable in Mal’s career.
“In 2018 and 2019, we had an absolute blast at Mount Walker, and the same goes for 2020 and 2021 at Narembeen,” Mal said.
A changing company and workforce
Over the years, Mal has seen many changes at CBH—none more striking than the scale of operations.
“When I started, having 30-40,000 tonnes was considered a big year. Now, it’s a completely different story,” Mal said.
But the biggest change he’s seen is the shift in the workforce and glad to see more diversity.
“When I first started, it was a very male-dominated industry. Now, it’s fantastic to see more women involved, contributing to the success of the company. It’s a much more balanced, diverse environment,” Mal said.
Influences and mentorship: The people who shaped Mal’s career
Throughout his career Mal has worked alongside many influential people. From Charlie Burgess, his former supervisor, to Ashton Steele, his current colleague and mentor/mentee, the relationships built over the years have been the foundation of his success and happiness during his time at CBH.
“Charlie taught me everything I know,” Mal said. “Ashton and I hit it off from the start—we make work fun, and that made all the difference.”
“Different Supervisors along the way taught me that it’s okay to make mistakes and showed me better ways of doing things.”
Former CBH General Manger of Operations Colin Tutt is a friend and former colleague of Mal.
“I often recall those early days with Mal, we were both young, learnt to Clarke shovel, load DC wagons, paint country elevators and endlessly sweep roadways,” Colin said.
“Mal’s career has involved numerous roles, added accountabilities, responsibilities over the years. It has been Mal’s sacrifices, commitment, dedication, and diversity in roles which when combined delivers outstanding service for the growers.
“Mal’s involvement is much admired by myself and others and he has certainly left a footprint of deliverables behind at CBH. His contributions are now recorded in history, and he should be extremely proud of his career and contribution to CBH.”
A life shaped by CBH: Professional and personal growth
Looking back, it’s clear that CBH has not only shaped Mal’s professional life but has also impacted their personal life. The friendships and connections he’s built over the years, both locally and across various shires, have become an invaluable part of their journey.
“The people I’ve met along the way—across different regions, different roles—they’ve been a huge part of what has made this journey so special. CBH has set me up for a fulfilling retirement, with good friends, good memories, and a lot of laughs along the way,” he said.
The secret to staying passionate after 50 years
So, how has Mal stayed motivated and passionate about his work after five decades?
“It’s all about the people you work with. If you love the team you’re with, the work becomes fun. You get the job done, but you also enjoy the journey,” Mal said.
So what advice would Mal give to his younger self on that first day?
“Go dogging! Just joking! I’d tell myself to plan for the long haul. The 50 years have been worth it. It’s been a great ride, full of memories, friendships, and plenty of fun,” Mal said.
The lighter side: Stories that still bring a smile
No 50-year career is complete without a few hilarious and unique stories, and Mal has more than his fair share of memorable moments.
Here are a few of the highlights below:
“I’ll be hitting the road with my wife in our caravan, starting with some short trips, and then planning to do the big Australia tour,” he said
A heartfelt Thank you
As Mal reflects on his incredible 50-year journey with CBH, he’s quick to acknowledge the support of his family—particularly his wife, Terri.
“If it weren’t for Terri and my kids, I wouldn’t have made it this far. She basically raised the kids on her own while I was working, and without her, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
Congratulations Mal on your monumental achievement – 50 years of dedication, humour, and hard work have made a lasting impact on CBH, and we are proud to celebrate his incredible milestone as harvest 2024/25 wraps up.
Here’s to 50 years Mal —and to many more adventures ahead!
From humble beginnings in 1972 to becoming a beloved figure among colleagues, his journey is a testament to dedication, hard work, and the enduring value of teamwork.
Mal’s colleague and friend, CBH Operations Coordinator, Area 9, Ashton Steele spent some time with Mal reflecting on his journey, filled with unforgettable moments, valuable lessons, and plenty of laughs.
Starting out: A leap of faith in 1972
It was June in 1972 when Mal first walked through the doors of CBH, taking on the RPO role at Mount Walker.
"I was working at the butcher shop in Bruce Rock when someone told me about CBH. I applied, got the job, and haven’t looked back since,” Mal said.
At the time, the industry was vastly different, and the company itself was smaller. Charlie Burgess became his immediate supervisor that year and would become a lifelong influence.
But it wasn’t always CBH that Mal had in mind for his future when he first started out; his original plan had been to become a professional dogger (professional animal controller). However, after meeting Terri, who would later become his wife, with her support he decided to stay at CBH.
“After meeting Terri, I stayed at CBH. And here I am, 50 years later, still going strong,” Mal said.
From Senior Operator to Supervisor: A career full of variety
Throughout his five decades at CBH, Mal has taken on various roles, each one bringing new challenges and opportunities. One of his favourite roles was as a Senior Operator, where he was involved in the chemical treatment of grain.
“I really enjoyed the variety of that job. Every day was different, and I got to work with a wide range of people, especially during harvest season. It made the work exciting, and the team made it even better,” Mal said.
Mal also spent some time as a Supervisor, which provided a chance to build on his expertise and leadership. But no matter the role, the camaraderie with his colleagues has always been important.
The last six years have been some of the most enjoyable in Mal’s career.
“In 2018 and 2019, we had an absolute blast at Mount Walker, and the same goes for 2020 and 2021 at Narembeen,” Mal said.
A changing company and workforce
Over the years, Mal has seen many changes at CBH—none more striking than the scale of operations.
“When I started, having 30-40,000 tonnes was considered a big year. Now, it’s a completely different story,” Mal said.
But the biggest change he’s seen is the shift in the workforce and glad to see more diversity.
“When I first started, it was a very male-dominated industry. Now, it’s fantastic to see more women involved, contributing to the success of the company. It’s a much more balanced, diverse environment,” Mal said.
Influences and mentorship: The people who shaped Mal’s career
Throughout his career Mal has worked alongside many influential people. From Charlie Burgess, his former supervisor, to Ashton Steele, his current colleague and mentor/mentee, the relationships built over the years have been the foundation of his success and happiness during his time at CBH.
“Charlie taught me everything I know,” Mal said. “Ashton and I hit it off from the start—we make work fun, and that made all the difference.”
“Different Supervisors along the way taught me that it’s okay to make mistakes and showed me better ways of doing things.”
Former CBH General Manger of Operations Colin Tutt is a friend and former colleague of Mal.
“I often recall those early days with Mal, we were both young, learnt to Clarke shovel, load DC wagons, paint country elevators and endlessly sweep roadways,” Colin said.
“Mal’s career has involved numerous roles, added accountabilities, responsibilities over the years. It has been Mal’s sacrifices, commitment, dedication, and diversity in roles which when combined delivers outstanding service for the growers.
“Mal’s involvement is much admired by myself and others and he has certainly left a footprint of deliverables behind at CBH. His contributions are now recorded in history, and he should be extremely proud of his career and contribution to CBH.”
A life shaped by CBH: Professional and personal growth
Looking back, it’s clear that CBH has not only shaped Mal’s professional life but has also impacted their personal life. The friendships and connections he’s built over the years, both locally and across various shires, have become an invaluable part of their journey.
“The people I’ve met along the way—across different regions, different roles—they’ve been a huge part of what has made this journey so special. CBH has set me up for a fulfilling retirement, with good friends, good memories, and a lot of laughs along the way,” he said.
The secret to staying passionate after 50 years
So, how has Mal stayed motivated and passionate about his work after five decades?
“It’s all about the people you work with. If you love the team you’re with, the work becomes fun. You get the job done, but you also enjoy the journey,” Mal said.
So what advice would Mal give to his younger self on that first day?
“Go dogging! Just joking! I’d tell myself to plan for the long haul. The 50 years have been worth it. It’s been a great ride, full of memories, friendships, and plenty of fun,” Mal said.
The lighter side: Stories that still bring a smile
No 50-year career is complete without a few hilarious and unique stories, and Mal has more than his fair share of memorable moments.
Here are a few of the highlights below:
- “One unforgettable day at Mount Walker, Charlie Burgess and I were sealing doors when a colleague stepped back and accidentally plunged his foot into a fresh bucket of glomastic. It was one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen.”
- “There was also the time a uni student got caught up in a mini tornado while working at Holleton, only to be more upset about losing his hat than the gravel rash he sustained!”
- “Let’s not forget the plucked pigeon incident at Mount Walker, where a colleague decided to prepare a pigeon for lunch, leading to a bewildered co-worker holding a half-plucked bird in shock!
- “At Colgar we were outloading the old H-Type, a young guy arrived to help me and Colin Tutt. To show him a bit of hard work, we would load a wagon each. I loaded my 12 tonne wagon, Tutty loaded his 12 tonne wagon, then this young bloke filled a 12 tonne wagon. He’d never done it before and we decided to stitch him up, without him realising we shunted the next wagon under so he did 24t instead of 12t. He wasn’t too impressed when he come out and realised we got him to do 2 wagons!”
Looking ahead: The next chapter
What’s next for Mal? After 50 years of hard work, it’s time to take things a little easier.“I’ll be hitting the road with my wife in our caravan, starting with some short trips, and then planning to do the big Australia tour,” he said
A heartfelt Thank you
As Mal reflects on his incredible 50-year journey with CBH, he’s quick to acknowledge the support of his family—particularly his wife, Terri.
“If it weren’t for Terri and my kids, I wouldn’t have made it this far. She basically raised the kids on her own while I was working, and without her, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
Congratulations Mal on your monumental achievement – 50 years of dedication, humour, and hard work have made a lasting impact on CBH, and we are proud to celebrate his incredible milestone as harvest 2024/25 wraps up.
Here’s to 50 years Mal —and to many more adventures ahead!