Plans for a reunion of former employees and councillors of the former shire of Orbost are progressing well.
The event will also be a joint celebration of the 30-year anniversary of the establishment of Orbost Civil and Civic Pty Ltd (OCC).
This week highlights the outstanding contribution of Noel Cuthbertson to the former shire and to OCC.
Noel, who is now 86 years old, started working for the shire of Orbost as its first mechanic in 1964 after several years of training which included an apprenticeship as a mechanic at GP Motors, employment with McLeod Ryan Industrial, and a year as a faller with the Forrest Commission.
He took the lead role in maintaining the various shire equipment and the establishment of the shire’s Browning Street workshop and depot and held that position through to the creation of the East Gippsland Shire in the mid 1990s.
After OCC was formed as a major contract company for civil and local government services in the East Gippsland area in 1995, Noel and his wife Faye established the business NJ & FJ Cuthbertson and continued to carry out the bulk of maintenance work on OCC equipment as a contractor in addition to carrying out other mechanical work for various other organisations.
Noel has strong memories of employees from both the former Shire of Orbost and OCC.
Regrettably, most of the older employees from Noel’s early days with the former shire have passed on, but Noel can still speak fondly of the contribution made to the early shire by the people he worked with, including outdoor staff, engineering and administrative staff, and councillors.
Noel has been an outstanding community member and has contributed many years of service to the Rotary Club of Orbost.
He is looking forward to the reunion coming up on May 2.
Registrations for the event are being taken by the Orbost Club Hotel.
Details are available via the Snowy River Mail office.
