ROD Thomas is slowly but surely finding his feet again.
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The former chef turned welder suffered a workplace injury about four years ago, which put him out of a job and at wit’s end for almost three years.
On a work day like any other of the previous four years, Mr Thomas injured his right elbow welding Army tanks at Bandiana.
“I was welding a tank on its side and I tore all of the ligaments in my elbow,” he said.
“I had immediate pain and I still feel it now; I tried physio, dry needling, cortisone injections and nothing worked. I couldn’t lift anything and my left shoulder dropped to compensate.”
Being actively employed since he left school and right-handed, the father-of-three couldn’t even do up the buttons on his pants.
“I was shuffled around in different departments and given alternative jobs until I became redundant,” he said.
“I have always worked in labour-intensive trades; I went from being a chef to laying concrete floors to working at the Army in the heavy welding section.
“I was really good at fixing things and creating things – I didn’t know what I wanted to do or what I was good at any more.”
Father to Kacey, 17, Ashlea, 15, and Linkin, 3, with wife Jayde, Mr Thomas stayed at home to care for their youngest and continued his treatment.
“If it wasn’t for Jayde I wouldn’t have been able to cope with it; she’s been my rock,” he said.
“She’s been very supportive of my emotional and physical changes – I couldn’t have asked for a better wife.”
Together with Border business Rehabilitation Outcomes, Mr Thomas got a job in December with Trafficking Traffic Management in South Albury.
“Getting back to work has helped me heaps psychologically, my self-worth, doing my part for the family,” he said.
“It’s not just about the money – WorkCover paid me a cheque when I couldn’t work – but getting back to work meant I was earning my money.”
Trafficking Traffic Management director Libby Brooks said she understood only too well the importance of a flexible workplace.
She had treatment for breast cancer four years ago.
“I needed time off myself and I know first-hand the value of a good employer,” she said.
“It’s nice to be able to support people who can do the job and want to return to work, especially getting into the demographic of 40s and 50s.”
Having taken over the business three years ago, Ms Brooks said the industry had evolved and traffic operations could be complex.
“This business is about the people – it’s what the people do that will make or break us,” she said.
“We’ve got some really good people out of the return to work group - Rod is such a good worker.”
Mr Thomas said there were other spin-offs of his work.
“I had become a recluse – I went from being a social person to a non-social person. Slowly I’m getting that back.”