Former Kiama Council outdoor staff members Glenn Thornton and Bruce Oke, who have retired after a combined total of more than 70 years' service. Picture: DYLAN ROBINSON
KIAMA Municipal Council farewelled more than 70 years of dedicated service to the organisation recently with a function for two of their most dedicated employees, Bruce Oke and Glenn Thornton.
Mr Oke, 65, spent 42 years as a plant operator and truck driver, saying the decision to join council came after shift work at BHP for three years.
"I started my working life at Jamberoo Dairy Co-op and then went to BHP but hated the shift work, particularly on weekends, so I mentioned to a friend who worked at council that I was looking for a change - never imagining I would stay for 42 years," Mr Oke said.
Mr Oke said he had no immediate plans in retirement, apart from a six-week trip to Thailand to visit his wife's family.
Mr Thornton, 61, has been working as a boilermaker after joining the council over 28 years ago, after previously working at Easts Beach and Miles Plumbing after moving to Kiama in the 1970s.
"It has been an absolute pleasure working with such a top bunch of good tradesmen - the sad thing is that a few of them are no longer with us," he said.
"There are a couple of things I want to do now I have retired, including visiting my son in Perth and helping out Blazeaid - a volunteer-based organisation that works with farmers and families in rural Australia after natural disasters such as fires and floods."
Kiama Mayor Brian Petschler said the retirements were an end of an era for council's outdoor staff and, in many ways, a sad day for the council.
"But both men can be very proud of what they have achieved not only for council but the Kiama community," he said.