Trevor Newton has worked for Canterbury-Bankstown City Council for the past 60 years and says he has no thoughts of retiring anytime soon.
The spritely 76-year-old, from Georges Hall, landed his first job in Council’s mail room when he was just 15 years old and he’s loved every minute of serving his community.
He joined when Robert Menzies was Prime Minister, and worked through the progression from Bankstown Municipal Council to Bankstown City Council, and to the merged City of Canterbury Bankstown.
“I applied for the job after reading an ad for a junior clerk, which I saw in the local Torch newspaper,” Mr Newton said.
Mr Newton worked across a number of departments in Council, including records and recreation, where he fondly remembers running Senior Citizens Week activities.
“For about 15 years I ran the senior citizens tennis day, where the seniors came together and played tennis at Deverell Park and Roger Bowman tennis courts,” he said.
“I’d run old-time dances in the old town hall, which is now the library. The police band was always there to trot out some of those old-time favourites.”
Mr Newton says one of his career highlights was showing former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd around the Bankstown Arts Centre.
“Mr Rudd was coming out to announce a grant to further upgrade the Bankstown Arts Centre, which was built on the site of the old Bankstown Swimming Pool,” Mr Newton said.
“I went down because I had the knowledge about the old pool. I got to welcome Mr Rudd, take him through the centre and explain the history of the pool.”
He now puts his knowledge and experience to work in Council’s Customer Service Centre, dealing with and assisting residents.
And Mr Newton is not alone. This year, Council also recognised 131 staff who have served the community for more than ten years.
Canterbury-Bankstown Mayor, Khal Asfour said he’s incredibly proud of our long-serving staff members whose impact on our community has been indispensable.
“It is because of these dedicated staff, that we are able to deliver the high-level quality of service to our residents,” Mayor Asfour said.
“Trevor is an outstanding staff member with extensive knowledge of the local area which he puts to work in helping our customers. What a tremendous achievement!”
