Every community has people who don’t seek the limelight but who provide assistance from behind the scenes to those out there who need support, and Peter and Joy Hanbury of Industrial Timber at Bellambi are two of these folks.

On Friday 27 March Peter and Joy will sponsor a Sydney Harbour boat trip for 50 disadvantaged and/or disabled youngsters and their carers. It’s part of their on-going involvement with the  Kidzwish Foundation, and well-known local entertainer Scott Radburn will be going along for the ride to entertain the passengers.

All together, Peter says, there will be about 100 people involved in the day.

And, what’s more, it will be on the Captain Cook MV Sydney 2000 - the same vessel that the Pope travelled on during his recent visit Down Under.

The special theme for the day will be “Pirates and F’airies” with the children and their carers dressing suitably for the occasion. On the return bus trip home each child will be given a gift.

Peter and Joy have been offering a similar annual boat trip for cancer patients and their carers from the local cancer carer association for the past four years.

Perter says one of the features of these special days is that he finds it is for so many of them their first visit to Sydney Harbour.

Born at Quirindi, west of Tamworth, Peter was educated in Newcastle before his father transferred in his employment to Wollongong and he finished his schooling at Wollongong High.

His first job was as an office boy at Thirlwell & McKenzie Timber Mills and he was appointed works manager at age 24 years.

This was followed by another management role for F. Jones & Son on the south coast before establishing his own business, Kembla Timber Services, later to become Industrial Timber Services, in 1976.

Over the years his company has provided timber support for Patrick’s at Port Kembla and Westernport and the Kurri Kurri hydro aluminium plant, as well as BHP and other local firms.

A fanatical bikie  

When he isn’t at work or being involved helping the disadvantaged in our community Peter just loves to get on his Harley Davidson and go for a ride.

Another of his interests is rugby league and he was a keen supporter of the BHP Steelers. He is still active with the St George–Illawarra Club.

Peter was one of many local businessmen involved with the construction of the Steelers Club and his sponsorship for the team goes back some 28 years.

Recently Peter joined the board of the KidzWish Foundation.

Although he has trimmed back his business activity in recent years Peter, along with Joy who is a director of Industrial Timber Services, intends to remain an active worker for the disadvantaged for many years to come.