STEPHEN Brakenridge, Electrolux’s current longest serving employee will take some fond memories with him when the plant closes next year.
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Mr Brakenridge started work as one of 16 apprentices at Email more than four decades ago, and started out as a toolmaker.
“I remember there were 150 applications the year I got the job,” he said.
He held several roles at the plant as it expanded its operations and technology was upgraded, including working in production control through to logistics manager.
He recalls the transfer of the production of chest freezers from a Victorian plant to Orange, and the production of bar fridges, as significant milestones during his time, as well as embracing work health and safety standards.
“We were responding well to the demands of the market, what the public wanted,” he said.
Mr Brakenridge also fondly remembers the beautiful prize-winning gardens meticulously tended by Nazza Pasquali.
“He was so proud of the garden and so were were the staff, no-one was allowed to walk on the grass,” he said.
Mr Brakenridge remembers Wednesdays as a momentous day when he began at the plant.
“Everyone was paid in cash and staff would have an armed escort to go into Orange in a taxi and bring back the cash. It would all then be counted out and put into envelopes and delived to staff just before midday,” he said.
Mr Brakenridge feels fortunate to have been at the plant in 1970 when staffing numbers were at their peak.
“Although there were some redundancies in 1975, a few years earlier we had 2000 people working here,” he said.
He is looking forward to retirement when the plant closes next year.
“I really want to do more volunteer work in the community,” he said.
janice.harris@fairfaxmedia.com.au
