"We run into each other in the supermarket, our kids play sport together, so there really is a great sense of community around us," he said.

"You find yourself naturally doing things that assist the broader community."

In 2003, as part of the organising committee for Manufacturing Week, Jon was looking for ways to improve the perception of manufacturing in the community. At the same time, he was approached by local schools concerned about disengagement and disruptive behaviour among year 9 and 10 boys.

They created a solar car challenge, where schools would work with industry mentors for 12 weeks a year building a remote-controlled solar car. At the end of the 12 weeks, they would have a race. Sixteen years later, they now have 14 schools and industries working together.

"I've had lots of letters and testimonials from parents saying that if it wasn't for the event their children would not have stayed at school," he said.

"Some of them have gone on to do engineering and a lot of them have gone on to get apprenticeships in the industries they worked with."

WTC also guarantees work for children of their staff over the holidays. This benefits not only the young people, who get a taste of real employment and a chance to learn valuable skills, but also the business.

"If you can have them come in and make products and not make mistakes it proves how robust our manufacturing systems are. We've also seen fantastic improvements and attitudes towards safety in our workplace because of that program."

Jon has also been instrumental in raising money for spinal cord charities through the Big Day Off, a nationwide initiative started as a way to raise money for a local quadriplegic footballer.

"These sorts of things you feel good about because you can see that they make a difference."

Jon plans to spend his retirement on a boat, following his dream of sailing around the east coast of Australia with his wife Lynn.