A Day to Remember

At Girvan Group, people are at the heart of everything we do. And last Sunday, we brought that to life in the best possible way, gathering for our very first Girvan Family Picnic Day at Centennial Park.

After a week of relentless rain, the sunshine turned up right on cue which felt fitting, because the day itself delivered in every way.

Frank Bozicevic’s BBQ skills were once again on full display, keeping everyone well fed throughout the afternoon. The spread was rounded out by an impressive lineup of homemade dishes brought in by the team, including Brazilian cheese balls, caramel slice, and a traditional Slovakian makovo-višňový koláč courtesy of Peter Molnar, proof that the Girvan family truly spans the globe.

On the activities front, things got competitive quickly. Michael Girvan took out the adults’ heat of the potato sack race, while teams used the tug-of-war as an opportunity to settle a few long-running workplace rivalries. Plenty of soccer was played throughout the afternoon too, though the skills on display didn’t quite match some of the bold pre-game claims. A couple of frisbees were also lost to the park but considered a reasonable casualty.

One of the real highlights of the day was the chance to finally put faces to names and welcome some of the newest members of our extended Girvan family. Events like this are a reminder of just how much the group has grown, and how important it is to step away from the pace of construction every now and then to connect as people, not just colleagues.

A special mention goes to Site Managers Leigh Cockings and Peter Molnar, who built the cornhole boards by hand in their own time using offcuts from site, a small gesture that summed up the Girvan spirit perfectly.

On the sustainability front, the team came prepared, with picnic blankets, gazebos and reusable picnic essentials brought from home rather than disposables, a big tick all round.

The inaugural Girvan Picnic Day has set a high bar. We’ll see you at the next one in 2027.