Local Tells Story Of “Forgotten” Town Saviour

Cowra Local Alan Thompson has released a book about former business ‘Cowra Export Packers’, a story about what he describes is a forgotten saviour of the town.

Mr Thompson, who managed CEP, said it formed an integral part of Cowra’s employment history, and helped keep residents in town by employing workers that lost their jobs when the former Edgell’s cannery shut down in 1992.

His book, entitled ‘Helping To Save A Country Town’, details the importance of the CEP for keeping workers employed in town, after 300 people lost their jobs when Edgell’s closed down.

He said he wrote the book as CEP had seemed to be forgotten, and he wanted locals to learn about the importance of the business.

“We created more employment than anyone in town at the time,” he said.“Had we not started the town would have been in trouble.”

“It had a flow on effect and kept people in town, and other people in their jobs as a result.”CEP ran from 1993-2000 as a contractor to Pacific Dunlop, the owner of Edgell’s at the time it shut down.

Pacific Dunlop contracted CEP to pack 30,000 cases of asparagus spears at the same factory the Edgell’s cannery operated out of, and in 1994 it was also contracted to pack tomatoes. It employed 57 people initially but grew its workforce to 200-250 people, with revenue rising to $15 million per annum.

It was sold to Windsor Farms in 2000, with the factory closing permanently after Windsor Farms closed some years later. Mr Thompson said he felt it was very important to start pushing the great story that came out of CEP’s years in business. The book can be purchased from Kendal Street Newsagency (top newsagency) and Cowra Newsagency (bottom newsagency), both on Kendal Street.

• Topics:
• Literature / Writing