Flipping burgers since 14: Meet the new McDonald's Warrawong licensee

One of James Dwarte’s earliest memories is how it felt to watch other children playing in the new “PlayPlace” playground his parents had installed at their McDonald’s restaurant in Warilla.

“I must’ve been about three or four, and my brother and I thought it was our PlayPlace, and it was a bit upsetting to see other kids taking it over,” he laughs.

It was the first in a long line of hard lessons he would learn as the child of a McDonald’s licensee, but having taken over the Warrawong restaurant earlier this year with his wife Sharnae, he admits each one helped prepare him to run a branch of one of the world’s most recognisable brands.

James was one and his little brother still in utero when his mother Katia, whose first job was at a Maccas in 1978, applied to become a licensee in Warilla with her husband Glenn.

“I guess I’ve got a unique perspective, having pretty much been born into the brand. It’s been ever-present my whole life,” he says.

Though he remembers assembling cup trays and Big Mac cardboard “collars” when he was about five, James was officially employed at his parents’ restaurant at age 14.

Katia says the work ethic required of James couldn’t have come as a surprise, having watched what it took for his parents to run their restaurant with two small boys in tow.

“As you can imagine, there was a lot of juggling. I look back now and think, ‘How did we do that?’. But we made it work,” she says.

“It requires a lot of hard work and sacrifice. I remember James’ dad bringing me job applications for new staff while I was at the hospital with a newborn.”

Katia and Glenn’s Warilla restaurant made headlines when it became the first McDonald’s store to trial the idea of serving dinner with crockery and glassware.

But alongside innovation and a “roll up your sleeves” attitude, there was another important philosophy to impart: there is dignity in all labour. So from mopping the floors to taking out the rubbish and flipping burgers, the Dwarte brothers would do it all.

“For me, it was important they were not treated as ‘the boss’s sons’,” Katia says.

“James had to earn every achievement, every promotion; there would be no special treatment. He’d do his fair share of 5 am starts on weekends and night shifts.

“I feel they’re the better for it. I think you can give your children the tools and experience to succeed in life, but it’s up to them to create their destiny.”

For 18 years, the lessons kept coming. Now, James hopes they can be seen in action at the Warrawong restaurant, which he hopes will be a door for local youths into the workforce, but also a springboard for locals to launch their own careers.

“My mother worked at McDonald’s throughout her HSC and university studies,” he says. ”It’s a great environment for that. You can use it to get a foothold in the workforce, and take the many skills you learn here into whatever career you choose.

“Within McDonald’s, you can start as a crew member and climb the corporate ranks of a global enterprise, or make a lateral move and become a licensee – like my mother and me. The beauty is, it’s really up to you how far you want to take it, and it all boils down to how hard you want to work.

“The great thing about working in a global organisation like this is there’s a lot of opportunity in front of you, many pathways to many successes, and access to some of the best and brightest minds in the world to help get you there.”

While the Illawarra is not immune to the skills shortages plaguing the country – particularly in the hospitality industry – James is now leading a team of more than 130 employees serving hundreds of locals daily. Under his leadership, at least 20 crew gained formal qualifications through McDonald’s as a Registered Training Organisation.

He chalks this success up to one of the greatest lessons of a lifetime spent under the Golden Arches.

“You can’t underestimate the importance of being engaged in the local community, and having a positive name in the community. It can have a big impact when people are looking for work,” he says.

To that end, McDonald’s Warrawong sponsors the Port Kembla Football Club, has engaged disability employment agencies and is actively looking for other local sporting groups, schools and community organisations to support.

“Mum and Dad were always supporting sporting teams and events, engaging with schools and charities, and they always made sure we were involved. Over the years, they’ve become known and valued members of the community,” James says.

“I hope we can build on that legacy.”