ARARAT manufacturing business Gason celebrated the career milestones of three employees on Tuesday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Peter Vanderwaal, Brad Makovec and David Grant have notched 50, 20 and 10 years with the company respectively.
Mr Vanderwaal said he started as an apprenticeship with the family-owned business in 1968.
“Basically my father sent me around looking for a job and I had three options,” he said. “I wanted to be a welder and that was part of the apprenticeship.”
He said there had been little reason for him to look for work anywhere else.
“I love Ararat and all my family is here and I’ve been able to enjoy my job,” he said.
During his time at the business the number of employers had been as many as 150 and as few as 18.
Mr Vanderwaal said it was a credit to the company that it had been able to adapt and diversify over a long period.
“Every time something went down there was always something else to do because it was always diversifying,” he said.
“Now there are so many products on the market it can actually be hard at some times to keep track of what is wanted.
“Because it’s a family-owned business they’ve never had to worry about shareholders and that has made it easier to adapt because they put their profits back through investment.”
He said the company had looked after him during his time.
“There has been the occasional disagreement but I’ve always done my job and they’ve treated me well,” he said.
“I’ve always had my family around me to support so I’ve had to do something and there has been no reason to change jobs.”
Mr Makovec said 20 years had gone by quickly for him.
“I enjoy the job,” he said.
“I fair bit has changed in my time including my role to a degree and we’re always doing lots of different things.”
Mr Grant said his decade at the business had been eye opening.
“I’ve already seen a lot of people come and go,” he said.
“I plan on being around for a while yet, I’ve got to pay of my house some way.”