FOR some it’s a big step to move from public service into the hurly-burly of private enterprise.
No doubt a few would-be entrepreneurs look back with regret that their severance package could have been better spent.
No so for Roger Klobe who passed sway on September 29, aged 71, after a 12-year journey with ill-health.
Roger had been employed by Telecom for 17 years and obviously had no doubt he could make it in business. And he did, big time.
“I truly believe the harder you work the luckier you get. And whilst it is fair to say that for the first eight years it was a struggle and I basically worked for nothing – after that it has all been worth it,” he told the Spec some years ago.
Roger kick-started his dream more than three decades ago when he launched Sheds Galore, together with another business, Klobe Communications.
During those public service days he built sheds with a friend on weekends for extra
money.
Twelve months after starting his two businesses merged with John and Cath Kaspers in Ian Hope’s old Hamilton Seed Supply shed at 286 Coleraine Rd., to form the conglomerate of C & J Engineering, Sheds Galore and Klobe Communications.
The businesses (pictured) gelled because Roger wanted a shopfront and John (40 years with Frost Engineering, later Aurora Tools) somewhere to work from other than home.
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THEN, seeing the large potential in the shed industry, Roger made the decision in 1994 to part ways with C & J Engineering and to dedicate his time to his shedding business alone – and teamed up with Kevin Brody.
During the next four years of business the two-man team grew into four shed erection crews with Roger spending many hours, nights and weekends in the home office.
Recognising that the paperwork was fast getting out of control – and with the advent of the new Silvaline design – Roger realised working from home was no longer adequate.
An office site and further employees were what was required, and with that the business set up at the current side on Coleraine Road.
The company motto: “We have remained true to our beginnings and to this day we are a local company, and we design, manufacture, supply and build the sheds here and can do anything from garden sheds to full scale industrial sheds, carports, matching an already existing structure – and even a modern home.”
One of their largest projects was the abalone farm at Port Fairy. Other memorable builds have included the equestrienne centre at Hamilton and Alexandra College as well as the Coleraine netball home quarters.
In 2000, when the GST came in, the business really hit a peak.
“I had eight crews and that number, even for me, was a bit much,” he told us.
“In June 2000 I sold 50 sheds for the month. With so many building crews it was chaotic, and I found myself fixing up too much work with all the crews.
“I decided this was unsustainable and I chose to downsize again so I could take more control of the quality of the product,” he remembered.
“For me, whenever the pressure is on, I will wear it for three months and then depending on what area it is in, I usually look to employ another staff member if appropriate, or downsize if appropriate, to always ensure we can maintain the quality of the product,” he told our reporter.
Around 2009, out of necessity, Sheds Galore started in-house manufacturing of Silvaline in Hamilton.
“We used to buy in from South Australia and those people decided not to produce any more. “They were going to go for an inferior metro type product, and I wasn’t prepared to accept that rubbish.
“So I took the risk, started the factory in Peck Street with Kevin Pedrina running the operation so that now the shed design and drafting and manufacturing is all done locally,” he recalled.
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AROUND 2014 Roger drew back from the business and family stepped up. Sheds Galore then became a three-generation company.
For 15 years Roger was also involved in the SES where he took on various leadership roles.
Over the years he conducted communications schooling in Balmoral and Coleraine, and installed UHF radios for farmers, so that they could be informed about fire activities.
He had also been involved in dramas and even played music in a band for three years before he realised the number of gigs were preventing him from spending enough time at home.
Roger volunteered time in the community and, among many tasks, replaced the dimmer board in the Town Hall and, with Bruce Warburton in 1978, spent every weekend for six months wiring the Hamilton Speedway to give them power.
He joined Rotary in 1998 and for 15 years was an active member of the Hamilton North club.
Roger was a motorbike enthusiast with a love of British motorbikes. He had his own
Norton collection.
That’s him pictured with his prized Norton International.
He had been a motorcycle fan from age 14. His collection included six, four Nortons and two Triumphs.
Known as “Raja” to his biker mates he was a life member of the BSA Motorcycle Owners Association.
Using this connection, in 2014 he organised a National Norton Rally, bringing visitors from around Australia to explore western Victoria and particularly district landmarks.
Roger was also a director of Dunkeld’s all British Rally for more than decade.
In retirement Roger could often be found tinkering away on his bikes.
Greater Hamilton will miss him.
