What Makes Working at Burstows Special?

A workplace culture of supporting each other, genuine team spirit and a definite commitment to getting things right for clients is what sets working at Burstows apart for Kelvin Strahan.

“I knew Burstows had a very good business name, but when I came to work here, I realised that while every business wants that sort of environment, the culture that’s been nurtured here is very different to other places,” Kelvin said.

Raised on a farm, a cabinetmaker by trade, and charged primarily with the care of the business’s fleet of cars, Kelvin puts his heart and soul into every job, and strives for perfection. But having always worked “in the background”, he knew that the “transfer of guests” from their place of death to the funeral home was the element of his new position which would most challenge him. It’s the area he now finds the most rewarding.

“It has been a huge learning curve for me and something I have really come to value,” he said.

Raised on a farm, a cabinetmaker by trade, and charged primarilywith the care of the business’s fleet of cars, Kelvin puts his heart and soulinto every job, and strives for perfection. But having always worked “in thebackground”, he knew that the “transfer of guests” from their place of death tothe funeral home was the element of his new position which would most challengehim. It’s the area he now finds the most rewarding.

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Discovering the Beauty in Easing Someone’s Grief

“To see a loving family grieving the loss of a loved one is beautiful in its own way, even though it’s a sad and stressful time. Just being there to offer a few quiet words to reassure them is really meaningful.”

Two members of the Burstows team are always on hand for transfers, and Kelvin said each situation is different, as they identify people’s needs and how to make the process as easy as possible on those closest to the loss.

“Everyone handles the death of a loved one quite differently; some are almost at peace with it at the start, while others of course are really upset … devastated.” In one case, Kelvin said he simply had to acknowledge the overwhelming nature of the death, saying, “I’m sorry, I have no words to say”.

He is proud to be part of a team in which “everyone genuinely wants the very best for the families and to honour what they want” and believes people are thankful to know at this difficult time that Burstows is there for them from the start. “It’s a relief for people to know that they are in good hands, and that the team will be in contact with them to ease the way.”

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Toowoomba Life

When not helping with transfers, Kelvin is kept busy detailing the cars which, being “naturally fussy with attention to detail” and good with his hands, he says suits him to a tee. “With my workmanship as a cabinetmaker, I crave that perfect look … I don’t want to see a single fingerprint. I don’t want it to be clean, I want it to gleam!” he laughs.

Used to a hard day’s work from a young age, growing up on a farm in northern NSW, Kelvin came to Toowoomba to take up an apprenticeship at 18 and never left. He met his wife Jane and they raised three sons – now young adults – who still live with them, leading to a “great dynamic” in a “wonderful place to call home”.