ELDERS Past Employees Association WA (EPEA) celebrated its annual Christmas luncheon last week, with all the cheer and camaraderie one would expect when 77 past employees get together.
The Rossmoyne Bowling Club, Rossmoyne, was overflowing with stories tall and small from some making their first appearance at such a gathering and others being well-practiced regulars.
Former water equipment specialist Gordon Briglin, Greenmount, who spent 30 years with the company and clocked up his 100th birthday in July, got a special round of applause when he attended with his daughter Lin Robins, Gooseberry Hill.
Committee members jokingly asked him what he would like as a gift to acknowledge his milestone, a bottle of wine, a blonde (the age of political incorrectness reigns) or a bottle of scotch?
Equally quick witted Gordon said he'd have the blonde and the scotch.
Needless to say he only received one gift and it wasn't the blonde.
Special guest James Cornish, recently promoted to a national role as general manager network and northern zone and now based in the Eastern States, made a welcome return to Western Australia and gave a rundown on Elders' current trading position.
Mr Cornish said the company had grown through acquisition and organic growth and despite a tough year due to drought, flood and frost, had finished its financial year with a strong result and its best ever in WA, up 20 per cent on EBIT.
He reflected how Elders had long been recognised as a great training ground for young people, including himself in his early days and was excited to report 80 quality applications had been received for their latest trainee intake program, from which up to four candidates would be selected.
