December 4, 2025
There are gifts, and then there are heirlooms.
At Birdon, we don’t view 25 years of service as a milestone, we see it as a lifetime of loyalty, a record of showing up through change, growth, challenges, and achievements. To give a quarter of your life to any organisation is remarkable. To give that time to Birdon means more than words can express, which is why this milestone is honoured with a gift that reflects its significance: a Breitling watch.
This tradition is woven into the fabric of Birdon’s story because it begins with our founder, Jim Bruce.
A Watch Worth Waiting For
For most of Jim’s life, the Breitling watch remained out of reach, admired from afar. Renowned for precision and trusted by pilots, Breitling represents craftsmanship, resilience, and adventure; all values that mirrored Jim’s own character. He admired the way its analogue face could track different time zones; perhaps an inkling of the global success that Birdon would one day achieve.
It wasn’t until three months before Jim passed away that he finally bought a Breitling watch for himself. That moment represented more than a purchase. It was a quiet, personal victory, a symbol of accomplishment earned over a lifetime. Time had shaped his dreams, his business, and his family.
When Jim passed, the watch was entrusted to family; his son-in-law, Steve, who still wears it today. A daily symbol of heritage, values, and the ongoing heartbeat of a family-run business.
Becoming Part of the Birdon Family
That watch became more than a treasured possession.
It became tradition.
Today, when a team member celebrates 25 years at Birdon, they are presented with their own Breitling watch. Not as a reward. Not as a token. But as a family heirloom.
The watch signifies belonging; not just to the organisation, but to the Birdon family.
This legacy has already been shared with eight remarkable individuals who helped shape Birdon’s story:Johnno Cooper, Ants Rutledge, Camo Gibbs, Tony Paschetto, and Davo.
And among those still part of our team today; Tony Worton, Ian “Moz” Phillipson, and Steve Cross.
This month, we are proud to welcome Mick Hodges into this tradition. His 25 years of dedication reflects the same resilience, loyalty, and integrity that have become synonymous with Birdon since Jim first set its course.
Because Time Is the Greatest Gift
In business, achievements can be measured in numbers.
At Birdon, we like to measure them in our people.
Twenty-five years means thousands of hours of expertise, innovation, laughter, tears, problem-solving, and shared purpose. It has shaped vessels, built relationships, created opportunities, and supported families.
Most importantly, it has shaped us.
Our value of Family Culture is not a slogan on the wall. When someone commits this much of their life to Birdon, we honour it the way Jim would: with pride, with gratitude, and with the recognition that time is the most precious gift any of us can give.
So today we celebrate Mick, and every member of our Birdon family; past and present who helped bring us to where we stand.