Council worker retires after 50 ‘blessed’ years in workforce

HERE’S what he has planned for retirement:

FOR former public servant Tony McDonald, in 51 years in the workforce, the greatest career highlights were the little things - sealing a road, seeing water stream out of a tap, turning a street light on.

Now, as he begins his first week of retirement, he plans on giving back to the communities who gave him his start in what has been a fruitful, successful career.

Mr McDonald started working 1969, completing his cadetship in construction after finishing a two year construction technician course with the Darling Downs Institute of Advanced Education, now the University of Southern Queensland.

Mr McDonald left his mark on councils in Stanthorpe and Cambooya, before transitioning across to the Lockyer Valley where he finished his career as a senior technical officer.

It wasn't always his plan to follow the path he did.

 

 

"My first love was a farm, and working in the farming environment," he said.

"Due to the circumstances I knew it was probably not likely for me to own a farm.

"I like working with dirt and getting my hands in the dirt.

"My next option was into the roadworks and so I went into the local government area."

For Mr McDonald, satisfaction did not just come in the form of a job well done - it was always about engaging with the community.

"It was about working with the community, the grassroots of society, and being able to work in that area, face-to-face, and trying to help solve those problems and concerns," he said.

"I worked with many great people both in the workforce and in the community over the nearly 51 years.

"I was greatly honoured and greatly blessed - the Lord has blessed me with a great career."

Mr McDonald also credits his success to his children, his parents, and his wife Rhonda, who supported him through his many ambitions and jobs.

 

 

"Without her I wouldn't have had the opportunity to put the time and effort into not only the local government side but all the community groups that I've been involved in," he said.

As well as working in a role that allowed him to provide for his community, he also filled roles in his personal life that gave him similar fulfilment.

He served on the P & C committees at Rangeville State School and Centenary Heights High School, and is also active in his church community.

As for the retired life, Mr McDonald said he was looking forward to catching up on time missed with his children and grandchildren at home.

"We'll just see what the future brings," he said.

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