TIME TO KICK BACK AND RELAX: After 52 years of working life, Tamworth insurance broker Barry Taylor is looking forward to putting up his feet during retirement. Photo: Barry Smith 130912BSD03
AFTER 30 years at the helm, local insurance broker Barry Taylor clocked off for the final time last Friday.
A little after 5.30pm, Mr Taylor closed the door of Austbrokers Insurance’s Tamworth office in Bourke St, bound for retirement.
Born and raised in Tamworth, Mr Taylor went to school at Woolomin and Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School.
After completing his studies he worked on the family farm.
“Shearing and truck driving,” he said.
After a time Mr Taylor began working for JJ Brady and Sons in Dungowan, later becoming a truck driver for local firms Carey’s, Stockmaster Transport and Grace Removals.
In the late 1970s he pursued a career change and worked in truck sales.
Mr Taylor made his way into insurance in 1981, initially working for another firm, three years later establishing his own – Barry Taylor Insurance.
Last September Mr Taylor sold the business to Austbrokers.
In the 12 months leading up to his retirement he has been helping to further establish the business in Tamworth.
Mr Taylor said the most enjoyable part of what he did was developing relationships.
“Some of my clients I have had since they first set out in business and I have been able to watch them grow and develop. There’s a certain amount of reward in that,” he said.
Two of those businesses were Tamex Transport and Inland Technology.
He said rekindling business relationships with some of his former employers was another enjoyable part of the job.
“Developing a rapport and friendship with people has really given me the enthusiasm to come to work every day,” Mr Taylor said.
He said nearly 31-and-a-half years in insurance had taught him that no problem in life was insurmountable.
“If you work hard and work together you will can overcome any problems,” he said.
While he’s not quite sure what retirement will hold, Mr Taylor’s pretty certain there will be some games of golf and visits to his four grandchildren in Sydney.
“There’s no dead-set plan yet,” he said.
“After 52 years of work, retirement is the plan now. Who knows – I might get bored after a while and go and do something else.”
Mr Taylor is also a former Tamworth City councillor.