ADM Honours Its Employee Number One – Rhonda Stirton
2026 is a big year for us at ADM as we all look forward to celebrating our 40th anniversary in November.
As we start our year, we would like to look back and honour ADM’s first employee, Rhonda Stirton, whose unwavering dedication from ADM’s earlier years has helped ADM become the company it is today.
Rhonda’s 35-Year Journey with ADM
If you have ever wondered how and why someone can work for one company for 35 years, we have requested Rhonda to share her story – and we hope you enjoy reading it.
Growing Team and Moving Offices
My journey with ADM began in January 1991.
I had known Glenn by previously working with him at a company called Parameters. A few years later after Glenn left to start his own business, Parameters was sold, and that was when I joined ADM.
I started working in a little office/warehouse in Hartnett Drive Seaford, and a few months later, Glenn and his then business partner purchased a new property in Cumberland Drive Seaford where we stayed for 14 years. It is during this time that ADM had its first Sales Rep, Stewart Banks, who years later retired but always came back to visit with his famous Scottish shortbreads. Sadly, we lost Stewart in 2024.
Peter and Colin later joined ADM, and the four of us worked together as a tight-knit group for many years, building the foundations of ADM. We were jack of all trades – answering phone calls, selling, invoicing, stacking shelves, packing, shipping out goods, and unloading trucks by hand! Whoever was free jumped in and did whatever needed to be done.
As the business grew, Glenn moved the company to accommodate the expanding team. From 22 Garden Blvd (four years) to 62 DeHavilland Drive (two years) to 21 Garden Blvd (four years), and finally to our current address at 26-28 Garden Blvd – each move has been a testament to ADM’s growth and expansion.
DeHavilland Drive was the birthplace of the ADM purple theme. I vividly remember the building’s purple render, carpets and some of the furniture, so we started using purple for our letterheads and business cards too.
I find my time at DeHavilland being the most enjoyable and interesting of all. This was when Kristin’s and Jono’s second son, Alex, was born. He was about a week old when he kept us company at the office, and had naps on his bouncer under my desk. We all took turns cuddling him, walking his pram around the park and watching him play on the bouncy swing attached to the office roof. When Ollie, Alex’s older brother, visited, we would all watch the infamous Binner Truck videos or The Wiggles on my computer. The much-loved Binner Truck video began with Skyhooks’ song Horror Movie, and Glenn and I would howl along with the music, which always made Ollie laugh. The customers on the end of the phone must have thought we were all crazy!
Very Manual Processes
The radiation aspect of the business was a major part of ADM from the start. Each quote involved multiple pages, the volume of paperwork that had to be typed and submitted to various Health Departments was interesting – and at times frustrating. Every “i” had to be dotted, every “t” crossed, and route maps detailed down to the last kilometre.
Back then, all paperwork had to be faxed through, with original copies mailed by Express Post. How things have changed!
ADM’s Suppliers
I had the opportunity to meet many lovely people from our overseas suppliers. Over the years, we welcomed many visits from Rose-Marie from ISP (now Ashland), Stacey from MEAN WELL, and Joe Shepherd from JL Shepherd. Each of them became good friends of the Bates family.
I remember one time when I was in Los Angeles on holiday with my family — Joe took us on a tour and out for lunch. It was such an enjoyable experience that my children and I still talk about years later.
ADM’s Commitment to Learning
In 2012, Kristin enrolled all ADM staff in a Certificate IV in Business Administration. Each month, we submitted a unit for assessment, and due to the high standard of work presented by all staff, ADM was awarded Victorian Medium Employer of the Year at the Victorian Training Awards.
We all attended the awards night at Crown, and there were huge cheers when ADM was announced as the winner among the contenders in our category.
My ADM Family for 35 Years
This month marks my 35th year with ADM. Some people are surprised that anyone could stay with one company for such a long time. I put this down to the family feel that ADM has always created, making coming to work truly enjoyable. It doesn’t feel like 35 years, even though I’ve spent more than half of my life working here.
Throughout my journey at ADM, my life went through many different stages. I made many new friends, witnessed huge changes in office procedures and technology, talked endlessly about our favourite football teams, and sadly lost a few colleagues along the way.
Over the course of 35 years, both Glenn’s and Vikki’s children, along with my own — all within a similar age range — shared major life milestones. Now, we’re experiencing the cycle once again with our grandchildren.
Glenn instilled strong customer, business, and family values from day one. Now that he has retired and handed over the baton to Kristin and Jono, they continue to uphold the same values that make ADM so special.
My ADM family has always been there to share life’s highs and lows — ADM staff genuinely care for one another.
I believe Kristin’s and Jono’s leadership will lead ADM toward an even bigger and brighter future. It will be exciting to see where it all leads.
~ Rhonda
