Pukeuri honours staff’s long service

Recognised for their long service at Alliance Group’s Pukeuri plant at a special event last month were (back, from left) Darryl Hollows, Andy Catto, Paul Velenski, Jeff Williamson, Ross Sutherland, Tony Sinclair, Noel Sheridan, Alistair Mclaren and Erin Arbuckle. Front, from left, Patrick O'connell, Tom Latimer, Deidre (declined to give surname), Phil Shuker (plant manager), Maree King, Paul Mathewson and Lan Heaphy. Absent: Linda Milligan, Dean Te Aho and Stephen Park. PHOTOS: CAROL EDWARDS

At a special event last month, the staff members were recognised for their long service at the Oamaru meat processing plant.

"This was an opportunity for the company to celebrate a very special achievement for a number of our people who have reached long service milestones," Alliance Group Pukeuri plant manager Phil Shuker said.

Alliance Group Pukeuri plant manager Phil Shuker (right) hands Alistair McLaren a gold watch for working at the Pukeuri plant for 50 years.

Seventeen people were recognised for 25 years of continuous service with the company, and Alistair McLaren received a gold watch for working at the Pukeuri plant for 50 years.

"Only a small number of employees have achieved this significant [50-year] milestone in Pukeuri’s 106-year history," Mr Shuker said.

Mr McLaren started as a labourer in the felling department in 1970 and progressed to be a puller’s assistant and then a wool puller.

"Ali was the last wool puller on plant who did wool pulling by hand, until the . . . machines were installed and the process was automated," he said.

Mr McLaren remained as a wool puller for the rest of his career at the Pukeuri plant until he retired in July this year.

"A special thank you to Ali for his commitment and dedication,” Mr Shuker said.