Lorna happy in her work
JUSTIN LATIF
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She has been walking the Green Bay New World aisles for 40 years and has taken only five days sick leave.
Lorna King started work as a meat packer at the Godley Rd supermarket when it opened on March 3, 1970.
Four decades later she still enjoys her job.
"I was 35 when New World opened here and I'll be 75 next month, but I've got no intention of retiring," she says.
"I like it here. It's handy to my home and we've had 10 owners who've all been good – including the boy who has just taken over."
The Green Bay resident had to take five days off in 1978 to go into hospital to have her varicose veins treated but has not needed another sick day since.
"I'll keep going as long as I'm healthy," she says. "I go to the doctor to get a warrant of fitness every three months and she says I've been very lucky with my health."
The grandmother of three is now serving the grandchildren of some her original customers from the 1970s.
Lorna is originally from Scotland and makes sure she uses her holidays to their full extent.
"I travel every year, normally for two or three weeks," she says.
"So I've been to America, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom. "And I've been back to Scotland about seven or eight times."
Lorna is now duty manager and also looks after the confectionary section.
She says great work-mates help keep her enthusiastic.
"The staff have always been very good and the time just flies by," she says.
Current owner Todd Leathem says having someone of Lorna's experience has helped him find his feet at the supermarket. "I've only been here six months – so Lorna's been showing me the ropes a bit," he says.
Lorna's only hope is that he does not ask her to move on too soon.
"The only way he'll upset me is if he tells me it's time for me to retire."
- © Fairfax NZ News
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