Allan Grogan – much better known as ‘Suey’ – received an official send-off into retirement from his employer Tenterfield Shire Council at November’s council meeting after 34 years of service.
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Suey officially retired on October 25 after starting with council on August 8, 1983 working on the track loader with the construction team.
He progressed to wheel loaders – doing roadside clearing and loading trucks in gravel pits – and also operated rollers.
According to workmates Dave Wadwell and Jack Hirning, Suey was a good worker but very fond of a practical joke. This could be providing rocks bigger than you’d ever need to build a road, throwing in a tree-stump or two, or perhaps procuring a dead snake to keep the tip man on his toes.
“When council sold his beloved loaded he moved onto the Parks & Gardens section where he remained until his retirement,” mayor Peter Petty reported in his sendoff.
According to Mark Cooper, during Suey’s time with Parks & Gardens he always managed to be half-an-hour early each morning, waiting do to the toilet and bin run.
“If anyone was to speak about Allan Grogan nobody knew who he was, he was only ever known as Suey.”
And Suey referred to everyone else as ‘boy’.
“Including me,” Cr Petty said.
“On behalf of the Parks & Gardens staff we would like to wish Suey good health and a happy retirement,” Mr Cooper said.