CELEBRATING 45 YEARS OF SERVICE:
RICK PASFIELD’S REMARKABLE JOURNEY WITH MINOVA
On 14 September 2026, Rick Pasfield, Senior Warehouse Operator in Nowra, Australia, celebrates an extraordinary milestone: 45 years of service with Minova and its predecessor, Chemfix.
Since joining the business as a 20-year-old in 1981, Rick has built a remarkable career defined by hard work, adaptability and a willingness to help others. During that time, he has witnessed significant changes across the company and the wider industry, progressed through several different roles and worked alongside generations of colleagues.
His story began through a personal connection.
“I had a friend who worked for Chemfix at the time, and he helped me get a job there,” Rick explains.
What began as an opportunity soon developed into a lasting career. For Rick, the chance to progress through the company and the quality of the people around him have been central to his decision to remain with the business for more than four decades.
“The opportunities to progress through the company and the great people I’ve worked with are what made me stay. It has always been a great workforce.”
A CAREER OF PROGRESSION AND ADAPTABILITY
Rick began his career at the packing bench, packing resin anchors. From there, he moved into making batches before progressing to operating machinery.
At the time, Chemfix did not have a dedicated warehouse. When an opportunity became available to move into a warehouse position, Rick took it, beginning the next chapter of a career that would eventually see him become a Senior Warehouse Operator.
One of the defining milestones in Rick’s career was the move to the Norfolk site. Previously, he had worked in a warehouse role at Albatross in Nowra, primarily handling resins and powders. The move to Norfolk introduced him to a broader range of operations, including ground support products and chemical injection projects.
“Moving to the Norfolk site was a major milestone for me. I went from working in a warehouse position at Albatross in Nowra, dealing mainly with resins and powders, to working at Norfolk with ground support products and chemical injection projects.”
That progression reflects one of the defining qualities of Rick’s career: his willingness to embrace change. Across 45 years, he has taken on new responsibilities, adapted to new working environments and continued learning as the needs of the business and its customers have evolved.
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WITNESSING AN INDUSTRY TRANSFORM
When Rick joined Chemfix in 1981, the company was a dominant player in the Australian market. Today, the industry is far more competitive, with businesses continually responding to changing customer requirements and market conditions.
Although the competitive landscape has changed significantly, Rick believes one of the business’s most important qualities has remained consistent.
“What hasn’t changed is our commitment to servicing our customers. We continue to go above and beyond to meet their needs.”
Rick has also witnessed Chemfix develop from what he describes as a family-run operation into the larger international business that Minova is today. Despite that growth, he believes the close relationships between colleagues continue to create a strong sense of community.
“When I first started, Chemfix was more of a family-run business. Minova is now a larger corporate business, but it still has that family feel.”
Of all the changes Rick has seen, however, the transformation in workplace safety is perhaps the most significant.
“Safety has improved by 10,000% across the board.”
It is a striking reflection of how working practices, expectations and standards have progressed during Rick’s career, and of the much greater emphasis now placed on protecting people throughout every aspect of the business.
THE IMPORTANCE OF PEOPLE
Technology, processes and markets may have changed, but the importance of people has remained constant throughout Rick’s career. For Rick, loyalty is not simply measured by the number of years spent with an organisation. It means supporting the people and the company through both successful and challenging periods.
“Loyalty is about sticking with the people and the company through both the good times and the challenging ones. A lot changes over 45 years, but the relationships you build and the people you work with are what keep you coming back.”
Rick finds it impossible to identify just one person who has had the greatest influence on his career. Over four and a half decades, many colleagues have shared their knowledge, offered support and helped make his working life enjoyable.
“There have been a lot of people over 45 years, so it’s hard to pick just one. I’ve been lucky to work with some great people who taught me a lot, supported me and helped make the job enjoyable.”
Those relationships continue to keep Rick engaged today, as does the variety of the work.
“The people I work with and the fact that there’s always something different happening keep me engaged. There’s still something new to learn or a new challenge to deal with.”
LEARNING NEVER STOPS
After 45 years, Rick has accumulated an exceptional level of knowledge and practical experience. Yet one of the most important lessons he has learned is that nobody ever knows everything.
“Commitment, strong values and a good work ethic are important. You also need to listen to the people around you. You never know everything, and even after 45 years, you can still learn something from someone else.”
It is a principle reflected in the advice he would give to anyone beginning their career with Minova today:
“Listen to the people around you, take advice, keep learning and be willing to move with the times.”
Rick also has a characteristically practical suggestion for newer employees who find themselves in need of an answer:
“If you don’t know something, go and ask Michael Slevin. He’ll know!”
Behind the humour is a valuable message about the importance of sharing knowledge and drawing on the experience of colleagues. Rick’s own career has been shaped by the people who taught and supported him, and he has sought to provide that same help to others.
DOING HIS PART
When asked what makes him proudest, Rick does not point to a single project or personal achievement. Instead, he takes pride in knowing that he has consistently contributed, supported the people around him and approached his responsibilities in the right way.
“I’m proud of knowing that I’ve done my part over the years and helped the people around me. I’ve always tried to do the job properly, help others whenever I can and pass on what I’ve learned.”
Rick believes the work ethic developed throughout his career has also had an impact beyond the workplace.
“It has given me a strong work ethic and taught me that you get out what you put in. That is something I’ve carried into my life outside of work as well.”
He also believes businesses should recognise the long-term importance of retaining talented and experienced employees, including through periods of reduced activity.
“Good people are difficult to replace, so it’s important to keep them through both the busy and quieter periods.”
It is an observation grounded in decades of experience and one that underlines the value of loyalty being demonstrated by both employees and employers.
A REMARKABLE MILESTONE
Reaching 45 years of service is an exceptional achievement. Rick’s career tells a story not only of longevity, but of progression, adaptability, friendship and an enduring commitment to doing the job properly.
During that time, he has seen the business grow, working practices transform, and the industry become increasingly competitive. Throughout every stage of that journey, the values he considers most important have remained consistent: work hard, listen to others, keep learning and help the people around you.
When asked how he would like his time with the company to be remembered, Rick concludes with the same understated humour that runs throughout his reflections:
“That I lasted longer than most of the equipment and I’m still in working order… just.”
On behalf of everyone at Minova, we congratulate Rick on reaching 45 years of service and thank him for the dedication, knowledge and support he has shared with colleagues throughout his remarkable career.