At the ages of 60 and 67 years respectively Ian Walker and Doug Yeomans have clocked up sixty years of continuous work with The Ascent Group (TAG) in Armidale.
The pair were recognised at the organisation’s service awards presentation ceremony along with newcomer Jesse Griffith who at 21 took out the Employee of the Year Award.
CEO Kevin Mead said the both Ian and Doug had contributed enormously during their time with the Group and would continue to do so.
“Both are integral to the organisation and have given loyal and continuous service during their time with us,” he said.
“They rarely miss a day’s work and are role models for the other 35 supported employees. The wonderful thing is that they enjoy the work so much they don’t want to retire yet.”
Mr Mead said Jesse Griffith had attended TAG’s Transition to Work program after he left Armidale High School and immediately began work in the Recycling Centre.
“Through his hard work, understanding of guidelines and his cheerful and obliging manner he has won the respect and affection of his fellow workers,” Mr Mead said.
“They voted him in as employee of the month earlier this year and now he is employee of the year, an outstanding achievement in his first year with us.”
Ian Walker and his family have had a long association with The Ascent Group and the newly opened supported living duplex Walker House was named after them.
Mr Walker currently works in the TAG recycling, confidential sorting and shredding room at Acacia Park.
Doug Yeomans also works in recycling, the mail run, Quicksmart and cleaning. He is married with two daughters and two grandchildren.
Other supported employees who received awards at the ceremony include Joyce Whitton (25 years), Peter Wright and Jenny Upton (20 years), Greg Blanch and Craig Edwards (15 years) and Darren Hutchins (10 years)
