National Siblings’ Day: Meet the Hetherington Brothers

With Moree being a small, tight-knit community, within Council there are a few family ties. Today marks National Siblings Day which honours and celebrates the relationships between brothers and sisters. In honour of National Siblings Day, we talk to the Hetherington brothers who share their stories on what it is like to work together at Council. Jake Hetherington, a Council employee for 7 years saw brother Luke follow in his footsteps and has been with Council for over 3 years. The ultimate sibling duo work together within the construction crew, with Jake as a Plant Operator and Luke as a Leading Hand Grader Operator. Joining an organisation that offers long service after 5-years, job security and stability were key factors that drew the Hetherington brothers in to join Council. As an added bonus they get to work together in the same team which has proven to be successful for their individual careers and ability to ‘get the job done’. “Working with Luke is great because we just get each other. When we start planning the job as a team, I know what my brother needs and wants before he even communicates it, being in sync with each other aids our work productivity,” said Jake. Working together has provided the Hetherington brothers the opportunity to build on their individual strengths while developing their careers. “Luke is the reason I am where I am today. When I joined the road crew, Luke took the time to show me how to drive the mixer and taught me everything I needed for my success in the role.” “Teaching Jake pushed me professionally after realising I wanted to become a leader and assist other people to develop their own people skills, and I’ll admit my competitive edge wanted to make sure my brother wasn’t better than me…,” laughed Luke. Luke and Jake bring out the best in each other which enhances an already strong team dynamic within the construction crew. Working together means a lot to the Hetherington brothers but it is also reassuring to know they always have a confidant within the team. “Knowing we work together means we always have a friend to talk to and someone you trust to confide in which is something that goes a long way,” agreed Jake and Luke. A bond between siblings is unlike any other as it is usually a person's longest relationship over his/her lifetime. We would love to hear about your #nationalsiblingday stories, please feel welcome to share them in the comments below.

Photography: Luke and Jake Hetherington