Staff Profiles

Following is a list of our key staff and their profiles.

Danny Boskovski: General Manager

Danny is the Managing Director of Buy Pet and Rural Pty Ltd and The Petshop Boyz and he is responsible for the General Management and leadership of that Company.

Danny is also a past Director of the Hunter Export Centre is a member of the organising commitee for the Cooks Hill Surf Lifesaving Club "Doggie Day Out" event.

Danny is an expert on equine supplements, racing pigeon nutrition and greyhound supplements he is constantly on the lookout for new and exciting products. Danny is a great person to know and he can be your 'friend in the industry'.

Danny encourages the Company to present quality products to customers so that they can be assured of our company commitment to excellence. Danny's enthusiasm and warmth are evident to all who associate with him.

Danny's other interests include exercise ( well he would like to do more), music (he has a huge collection of CD's!!!) and he loves to travel. He is a Star Wars and Trekkie fan! ...and he loves weimaraners too!

Danny has quite a collection of pets. His Favourite 'Legend' is a weimaraner 'Somerlaren Ima Legend' who is doing really well on the show circuit. He also keeps hens for fresh eggs, has 4 other weimaraner dogs, breeds parrots in his spare time and also has an amazing garden......where does he find the time?

Contact: Danny Boskovski

James Delaney: Financial Manager.

Employment Commenced: October 1980 ....a long long ... long time ago for some.

Formal Qualifications: B Met Dip Ed. Dip Som Psychotherapy.

Relevant Achievements: Jim Delaney founded the Hydroshop Corporation Pty Ltd in October 1980 and then later The Petshop Boyz Pty Ltd in 2005 he also has...... lots of life experience, not that we are saying he is old.

In 2000 Jim was Vice President and also Retail Division Co-ordinator of the Australian Hydroponic and Greenhouse Association. He has a background as a Secondary School Science Teacher is a qualified Somatic Psychotherapist has sucessfully bred and shows Weimaraners as a hobby since 1973.

In 2005 Jim was able to follow a life-long dream and move this company into the Companion Animal Industry. One of Jim's passions in life has been to breed and show Weimaraners (Gundogs). He established a breeding kennel called Somerford Weimaraners in 1974.

Jim has a vast knowledge and life long experience with animals, having bred dogs most of his life and also having a keen interest and experience in breeding exhibition Japanese Bantams, pigeons, ducks, many types of fowl and cockatiels and parrots. Jim is a great resource to have on our team and often finds he is able to offer expert advise based on years of experience to both customers and staff alike.

Jim has a real passion for animals and cares greatly about their environment and well being. He is particulaly skilled on diet and feeding of dogs and has always had a repution for being able to improve the quality of a dogs skin and coat using his dietary regime perfected and practised over many decades.

Talk to him next time you are in the store and you will be amazed by his knowledge and passion.

Joshua Uhrig: Warehouse Manager

Our Resident Warehouse Wizard!

Josh joined the team at Buy Pet and Rural Pty Ltd/Petshopboyz while still at school completing work experience a wee young lad of just 14 and a half.

Since that time Josh has completed a TAFE Horticultural certificate, computer data retrieval course and numerous other courses.

Josh ensures that our warehouse runs efficiently, organizes and manages warehouse schedules, is responsible for accurate inventory records ( except when they are wrong), coordinates our manufacturing schedules and says he is the "chief incoming stock coordinator. There is no doubt that he is our Warehouse wizard!!

Josh is now a senior member of the management team at Buy Pet and Rural Pty Ltd. He is a major asset to our success. Get to know him he is a great guy!

Josh's interests include, Motorcross riding and weekend camping trips. Josh can also be found serving growers at our Mayfield warehouse store and says that his greatest interest in customer service is the use of additives to increase your yields.

Brock Palmer: Store Supervisor

Brock has contact with many breeders and keepers of reptiles and amphibians.

Brocks' interests include: breeding exotic pets, he keeps tropical parrots (eclectus roratus solomonsis), many species of scorpions, tarantulas, reptiles and amphibians and has a stick insect and spiny leaf insect enclosure on display at the Warners Bay store.

Brock joined our team in November 1999 after completing a Certificate in Hydroponics at Newcastle W.E.A. and rapidly became our hydroponics, indoor environment specialist.

He always has a lot of plants growing hydroponically on display in the shop and at home, especially Bonsai's, Chillies, tomato's, Australian Natives and Cacti.

If you think there's a plant out there that doesn't grow in hydroponics, It may or may not be possible, but he's sure to take up the challenge. Or if you are looking for an environment for a Reptile, Amphibian, Crustacean, Arachnid or insect, Brock is the one to see.

Karen Kuba: Hygiene Supervisor

Karen is the 'Hygiene Police" and has taken responsibility for in store cleaning.

Karen has worked with Jim now for over 20 years and has worked at the new store since it opened.

Karen has a great sense of humour, often plans surprise morning teas with all sorts of meat pies or hot bread days. She is a great asset to our team.Karen has numerous pets like bunnies, tropical fish and dogs.

Joel Heagney: Supervisor

Joel Heagney is our resident bird and reptile expert.

Joel has a lifetime of experience with Birds and Reptiles has bred softbills, waterfowl,parrots, pigeons and other birds. he has a pet Natural Intergrade Snake called 'Trouser'

He has a pet Neopolitan Mastiff called 'Dixie' who has just been to school at the Better Dogs Academy at Clarencetown in NSW. Not sure if she is better behaved BUT she was sure glad to get home.

He breeds the followiung varieties of poultry, Golden Seabrights, Japanese Bantams and orientals.

I'm told he is also great at handraising birds including a baby kookaburra.

Joel is a retro guy looves 50's styles and recently attending the 50's weekend in Coolangatta on the Gold Coast.

Lynette Akre: Relief Supervisor

Lyn is a casual sales assistant at our Mayfield West Store.

Lynette is also one of our trainee relief supervisors in that store.

She has a great wealth of experience with animal care and is a very approachable and knowledgeable member of the team. Lynette is especially confident working with dogs and has lots of knowledge to share with customers in this area.

Sam Laird: Animal Care Assistant

Sam looks after our animal displays and does a great job of caring for all of our animals in the store.

Sam is committed to ensuring that all of our animals are well fed and kept in clean comfortable enclosures.

Sam is about to enrol in an animal care course and is also commencing retail training. Say 'hi' to him next time you are in our store.

Ariki Moanaroa: Webmaster

Ariki is our Webmaster.

This guy is a web/marketing genious, he works partime for the Petshop Boyz building our web descriptions, loading photos and updating our data base and marketing the website. Watch our web site closely and you will see some real improvements over the coming months.

Ariki and his family are also entertainers and can be seen regularly performing at the Greek Cultural Centre at Hamilton in Newcastle. It is a great night out when they are playing so make sure you book on one of their nights and take the family for a great meal.

Ariki also teach's ballroom dancing...watch out girls he is a real lady killer.

Gillian Burgess:

Gill is our General Administration Assistant and our accounts payable administrator. She has recently completed her Cert 4 in Business Admin with distinctions - well done Gill!

Omen Sales Dog: General Dogs Body

Mmmmmmm... My name is Omen. I was born at the Petshop Boyz.

I have been helping out with customers now for the past 12 years.

I can sniff out a bargain anywhere and I'm sure to dig in if you want me to help you select a bargain.

I'm old and tired but I never complain.

Nobody listens anyway!