Celebrating 30 Years of Service: Rodney “Lizard” Bruce and David “Pom” Norris
At Varley, our people are the foundation of our success. We recently celebrated an incredible milestone, recognising Rodney “Lizard” Bruce and David “Pom” Norris for reaching 30 years of service with the company.
Their careers span decades of change, growth, memorable projects and lasting friendships. Through their dedication, expertise and commitment, both Rodney and Dave have made significant contributions to Varley and the industries we serve.
Rodney “Lizard” Bruce
Rodney’s connection with Varley began in 1985 when he commenced a coppersmith apprenticeship. He was part of the last intake of coppersmith apprentices through Newcastle TAFE, recruited during the era of Manager Ken Englund and Supervisor Jim Tonner.
It was during his apprenticeship that Rodney earned the nickname that has stayed with him throughout his career.
As the story goes, apprentices of the day were often subjected to an initiation involving blue fitter’s ink. When Rodney realised what was about to happen, he took off running. His long-legged sprint reminded his workmates of a lizard darting for cover, and from that day forward, Rodney became known simply as “Lizard.”
During his apprenticeship, Rodney developed his trade in the stainless steel workshop under the guidance of experienced tradesmen. Over the years, he broadened his skills alongside respected colleagues such as Jock McTaggart and John “Croker” Gill, developing expertise in pipe fabrication, ship repair and specialised manufacturing.
After completing his trade, Rodney spent time working in Victoria before returning to Newcastle and eventually rejoining Varley in June 1996.
Over the past three decades, Rodney has contributed to a wide range of manufacturing and industrial projects, including commercial cooking equipment, heat exchangers, steam-jacketed vessels, tanks, bus bars and complex fabrication work.
He has also played key roles in some of Newcastle’s most notable industrial projects.
One was the challenging ship anchor recovery project, where determination and teamwork ultimately led to the successful recovery of a lost anchor and chain.
Another was the iconic Pasha Bulker recovery, where Rodney worked alongside salvage and repair crews preparing the vessel for its return voyage after running aground on Newcastle’s coastline. The project remains one of the region’s most memorable maritime operations and a proud chapter in Varley’s history.
For more than a decade, Rodney has been an integral member of Varley’s Field Services team, supporting customers across ports, grain terminals, stevedoring operations and marine industries. His knowledge, experience and willingness to help have earned him the respect of colleagues and customers alike.
David “Pom” Norris
Affectionately known throughout the business as Pom, David Norris has built a reputation as a skilled tradesman, trusted colleague and passionate advocate for employees.
Dave began his trade career with ICAL, specialising in combustion and boiler work. His early years saw him working across major power stations including Vales Point, Munmorah and Eraring, developing the technical expertise that would become the foundation of his career.
In 1988, Dave joined Varley at Munmorah Power Station after being recruited by Warren Davies.
He later worked under Warrick Heard at Wangi Power Station as a Quality Assurance Officer.
During a maintenance outage, Warrick asked Dave to sign paperwork formally appointing him as an employee representative and union delegate.
During a maintenance outage, Warrick asked Dave to sign paperwork formally appointing him as an employee representative and union delegate.
Dave’s reported response was simple: “What’s this all about?”
The answer reflected the respect he had already earned among his peers. Workers naturally turned to Dave for advice, information and support, so formalising the role simply recognised what he was already doing.
Since around 1990, Dave has been a dedicated advocate for employees, supporting colleagues and helping maintain positive workplace relationships across the business.
Following an industry downturn in 1992, Dave was among many employees affected by workforce reductions. However, his connection with Varley remained strong, and he returned to work almost immediately as a casual employee. In 1996, when he needed permanent employment to secure a home loan, Varley was pleased to offer him a permanent position.
Over the years, Dave became a vital part of Varley’s ship repair and industrial maintenance operations. Customers came to know him as someone they could rely on, and his dedication to service made him a trusted point of contact for urgent and specialised work.
Throughout his career, Dave has supported operations across ports, shipping, grain handling and industrial maintenance, earning a reputation for reliability, responsiveness and technical expertise. He became particularly well known for his knowledge of ship repair work and was regularly called upon to assist with critical repairs at short notice.
Today, Dave continues to play an important role within Field Services while remaining a respected employee representative. Outside of work, he has also been a passionate supporter of local manufacturing and skilled trades, working alongside industry groups and advocating for opportunities that strengthen Newcastle’s industrial future.
Thank You, Pom and Lizard.
Thirty years of service is a remarkable achievement and one that reflects dedication, resilience and an unwavering commitment to excellence.
Rodney and Dave have each made lasting contributions to Varley, our customers and their fellow employees. Their stories are woven into the history of our company, and their experience and leadership continue to help shape its future.
On behalf of everyone at Varley, we congratulate Rodney “Lizard” Bruce and David “Pom” Norris on achieving this outstanding milestone.
Thank you both for your commitment, professionalism and contribution over the past 30 years.
