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Farewell To "Darkie"
After being in the freezing works industry for 49 years Mr Len ("Darkie") McKinley retired from the position of slaughterhouse foreman at the Gisborne Refrigerating Co. on November 6. Mr McKinley, who is held in high regard by both management and staff and actually started work at the Waipaoa Works in 1925, was honoured at a function held in the Midway pavilion.
Several presentations were made to Mr McKinley (centre) who is shown with those who spoke at the function. They are, from left, Messrs Bill Lowry (retired company manager), Jack Baker (present company manager), Chas Read and Wally Varley (works manager). Also present were
Messrs Monty Gilbert, Geoff Warwick and Kay Maynard.
Mac Green, Tom Kane and Jock Alexander.
David Ball, Fred Day and Allan Wootton.
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Also at the farewell function were Jim McGachie, Chas Read, Guy Smith, John Grainger and Cyril Tune
Don Robinson and Bruce Garlick
Warren Whitehead and Nolan Urry
Ted Perano, Tom Corlet, Leo Morrow and Eric Bennett with Len McKinley
Jim Milligan, Jack Booth, Ron Watts and Ron Scholium
Bob Bothamley, Rex O'Conneil, Roger Turnbull, John Brown and Neil Williams
This large group is, from left, in front, Tonto Hingston Len McKinley, John McNamara, Gavin Cooper and Bunny Allen. At back. Rex Hay, Peter Hunn, Tautau Nikora, Kahu Nikora and Sonny Taukamo