IT’S not yet clear whether she is the oldest employee throughout all of the licensed premises in Clubs NSW, but the team at Toronto Workers Club reckons she’s the most loved.
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Agnes Hales – or ‘Aggie’ as customers and her work colleagues call her – recently celebrated her 80th birthday, and is the oldest employee at the club.
Her workmates marked the occasion with some appreciative words and a gift presentation.
Club chief executive officer Mark Singleton described Agnes as the matriarch of the club family.
“Agnes is coming up on her 13th year of employment at the club this year, and we’re more than happy to be celebrating her 80th birthday with her,” Mr Singleton said.
The club boss said his friendship with Agnes was formed many years before she started work there.
“I remember the day Agnes walked in and said ‘I need a job’. I said ‘When can you start?’ and she said ‘Now’,” he said.
Agnes regularly works the restaurant bar and functions as a food and beverage attendant.
Mr Singleton said the relationship and connection Agnes had with customers and staff was special.
“There’s not many people in our organisation that bring as much as you do to our customers and our staff,” he said.
“Everybody loves you, and we love you, and we hope we have you around for many more years.”
To which Agnes quipped: “Another 10?”
The club’s marketing, promotions and entertainment manager, Christine Wenta, said Agnes’s energy was infectious.
“Aggie’s enthusiasm is a boost to anyone’s day,” Ms Wenta said.
Everybody loves you, and we love you, and we hope we have you around for many more years.
- - Mark Singleton
The club posted a compilation video online of Agnes’s birthday and, within 24 hours, it had reached more that 3000 people and had 1000 views.
“Aggie is well known in the community of Toronto and will be celebrating with many over the next few days,” Ms Wenta said.
“It’s an honour and pleasure to work with someone as wonderful and motivational as Aggie.”
Ms Wenta said Agnes embraced all aspects of her job, and understood the club’s role.
“Aggie gets involved in every themed event we have. She’ll dress up, and even gives some of the young ones a run for their money with her work ethic and creativity,” she said.
Agnes said she planned to work at the club for “many more years to come”.
Ms Wenta said the club looked forward to celebrating Agnes’s 90th birthday with her.
“Agnes is such a valuable member of the Toronto District Workers Club Group, and team, and we couldn’t imagine work, or life, without her,” she said.