At 87 and in the same job for 61 years, Effie may just be Adelaide’s most loyal worker

At 87 years old with more than 60 years in a single job, no one would begrudge this Munno Para Foodland worker a rest. But Effie’s got no plans to clock off anytime soon.

Effie Catsas, 87, many be South Australia's most loyal worker clocking up 61 years service at Munno Para Foodland. Picture: Sarah Reed

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After 61 years of service with the same company, 87-year-old Effie Catsas may well be the most loyal employee in South Australia.

More than 20 years past the normal retirement age, Mrs Catsas still drives 40 minutes to be at the deli department at Munno Para Foodland by 5.30am. She has no plans to quit.

And her secret to lasting so long on the shop floor? “I enjoy keeping my body and mind active and nobody is able to boss me around,” Mrs Catsas said.

“But also you have to like your boss. The new one is young and hardworking; he is a gem. You don’t see that hard work a lot these days.”

Mrs Catsas has been with the Chapley retail group – which owns several Foodland stores across Adelaide – for most of her working life, after arriving in Australia from Greece in 1953. The only gap in her work for the Chapley family came with a seven-year stint in a cafe she and late husband, Rino, established in Victoria.

Mrs Catsas said work kept her well balanced and helped her through lonely times, such as when her children grew up and when her husband died.

One boss who stood out her mind was the now Chapley group executive manager, Philip Funnell. Mr Funnell said he had worked with Mrs Catsas since 1981, when he was still at school.

“Her success is just hard work, keenness to come to work and being able to mix well with customers and workmates,” Mr Funnell said.

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Originally published as At 87 and in the same job for 61 years, Effie may just be Adelaide’s most loyal worker