In Hāwera, Taranaki, you’ll find Raewyn Shaw – a familiar face who’s quietly kept key community sites running for more than 30 years. Her story is part of the wider OCS legacy that’s been evolving for 125 years.
Raewyn began her career working evening shifts at the Hāwera Police Station. Over three decades, she’s seen cleaning standards and systems evolve and has adapted to new ways of working, all while staying with OCS. Today, she continues to look after both the Hāwera Police Station and The Warehouse, bringing the same care and consistency to each shift.
Trusted by customers, valued by colleagues
Raewyn’s service is valued not only by OCS but also by the customers she supports. The NZ Police, for example, made special arrangements for her to park in the secure compound after she experienced a frightening incident years ago while arriving for an early shift.
“They didn’t want me to go through that again,” Raewyn explains. “Now I park right by the police cars. They really look after me.”
At The Warehouse, her reputation’s just as strong. “They trust me to get on with the job and keep the place looking its best,” she says. “It feels good knowing they notice the effort I put in.”
The team knows they can count on Raewyn to keep things running smoothly. She’s the person they turn to when something needs to be done properly, trusted to step in wherever she’s needed and to deliver every time.
It’s colleagues like Raewyn who bring OCS’s 125‑year history to life every day – showing that reliability and care aren’t just values on paper, they’re actions seen in every shift. In regional towns like Hāwera, that dedication keeps essential sites operating and makes a real difference to local communities.
A role that fits around life
Raewyn’s seen a lot change in cleaning protocols and supply systems over 30 years, and she appreciates the improvements.
“The system works so smoothly now. I send my order on a Tuesday and my supplies arrive on Friday,” she says. “Years ago, we’d be waiting weeks.”
Her role’s always fitted around family life. Early on, working evenings helped while her children were small and her husband was on shifts at Fonterra. Now, at 68, she continues to work mornings, balancing her job with following the sports of nine grandchildren and enjoying holidays – including a family trip to Rarotonga to celebrate her and her husband’s 50th wedding anniversary.
“I’ve always lived in Hāwera,” she says. “I like it here. The work suits me, and I just keep going.”
Recognising her service
Raewyn was recently recognised by OCS for her long service at a celebratory lunch where she was joined by local colleagues, Taranaki Area Manager, Paul James, OCS NZ Operations Director, Gavin Upston and her husband Michael . Gavin presented her award and shared the heartfelt thanks of the business for her decades of dedication.
Cleaning two key sites in a regional town might sound ordinary, but Raewyn’s story shows what makes it extraordinary: years of quiet consistency, trusted relationships with customers, and a work ethic that hasn’t wavered.
“I’ll miss it if I ever leave,” she says. “I’ve left once before, but I came back. That says it all really.”
