Inverell has lost one of its biggest and most prized catches after SK Seafood owner Steve Rutherford officially announced his retirement from the business last week.
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The Yamba-local parked his fish van at his usual spot outside Beaurepaires for the last time on Thursday and recalled how he has seen the town change over the last 14 years.
“Toyota wasn’t even here back then,” he said, pointing to the dealership located beside the van. “And I’ve really seen the town grow and flourish.”
The only thing that hasn’t changed is Rutherford’s efforts in carting around the freshest quality seafood in his fish truck for the last 14 years.
“The best thing about the job has always been the appreciation of the people,” he said.
It’s this appreciation that spurred Steve to make the 1,200-km round trip through Moree on Wednesday, Inverell on Thursday and Grafton on Friday.
“I started my business in 2004 because I understood how difficult it is for regional towns to get their hands on quality seafood. I wanted to supply the west with good seafood,” said Steve, a fisherman before he started the fish van business from scratch.
From salmon to prawns, Steve has sold all the monsters of the sea from the back of his truck.
“I’ve never seen a town that likes salmon and prawns as much as Moree,” he laughed, referring to the locals who would go and shop at the back of Supercheap Auto on Frome Street. “Though Moree is one of the biggest buyers; sales in Inverell skyrocket every Christmas and Easter. And it was Inverell that first started buying salmon in a big way two years ago even before it caught on in other places.”
Looking back, Steve has mixed feelings on his last day despite being “over the long drives and early mornings and long days. I’m ready to start the next chapter in my life,” he said. “This time next week I’ll be in Evans Head.”
Steve plans to enjoy the first four weeks of his break on a caravan trip around Australia. Afterwards, he’ll take what comes his way.
“Maybe there’s a career change for me. I’ll see what happens,” he laughed.
As Steve intends to take his time to smell the roses, Mark Horton has taken over the reins of the business. Steve said he couldn’t have chosen a better person.
“I am confident Mark is going to do well. He has been in the seafood industry for a long time, managing his own fish and chip shop,” he said.
The legacy continues.
The fish van will be in Inverell again this Thursday, without Steve Rutherford, but with Mike Horton as a new era begins.