Doug King has come a long way from his years of long hair and driving a Sandman panel van.
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It’s been 50 years to be exact – half a century working with Ballarat company Bartlett Manufacturing.
Mr King will celebrate the milestone at a staff gathering in March, which will be one of his last days at work before retirement.
His journey with Bartlett Manufacturing started as a 16-year-old when looking for a job after feeling fed up at school.
“I went in for an interview and from what I can remember Cliff Bartlett said ‘you can start next week’,” he said.
Mr King was only the third full-time worker to be employed outside the Bartlett family when the company was 11-years-old.
He started as a general laborer and has worked dozens of roles in his 50 years.
“Roles kept changing on me, for the good not for the bad, as the company changed and grew.”
The Ballarat family business has expanded over 61 years of operation and now employs around 120 people.
Mr King started work on the factory floor in various roles including as a machinist and sewer. He then moved to the office to work in sales and customer service and has been a trainer for new staff.
“It has been a rollercoaster in one way. You start from the bottom and work your way up,” he said.
“I wouldn’t still be here if I was just a machinist. I was probably a little bit like Cliff. I wanted something more. I think that is the secret, you want to keep moving. You take pride in your work and you want to do the best you can.
“Bartlett’s has always wanted to improve their products, they have always looked after their staff, they always look forward, never back.”
Bartlett Manufacturing now operates over four factories on three sites.
Chief executive Dave O’Brien said Mr King was the company’s first employee to reach 50 years.
“It is a pretty special occasion, 50 year employees will be few and far between,” he said.
Mr King said he was looking forward to retirement with his wife in Buninyong, the town where he was born and has lived all his life.
“The hard bit will be not getting up at 6am in the morning and saying I am going to work.”