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The Border Watch : December 24th 2013
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NEWS TIPS newsroom@tbw.com.au NEWS 3 Drink driving charge MOUNT Gambier police caught an alleged drink driver at about 6.30am on Sunday morning. The 22-year-old Victorian woman returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.117 - more than twice the legal limit. She was issued with a six month immediate loss of licence and her car was impounded for 28 days. She will be summonsed to appear in court at a later date. DENTURE CLINIC ANDREW BOL WELL 22 ALEXANDER ST • MT GAMBIER END OF AN ERA: Former Safries employees Chris Phelan, Jenny Thomson (second from right) and Ray Ingley were joined by Ms Thomson’s daughter Riana Emmerson as they said their fi nal farewell to the potato processing plant on Friday. Picture: BRETT KENNEDY Workers reach end of line SAFRIES processing plant offi cially closes near Penola KEN BR brett@ KENNEDY BRETT brett@tbw.com.au IT was the end of an era for manufacturing in the South East on Friday as McCain Foods offi cially closed the doors on its Safries potato processing plant near Penola. After making the shock announcement on October 15, production has been winding down onsite with the 59 fulltime employees fi nishing up on December 11 as decommissioning of the plant began. The offi cial closure was a bittersweet moment for Nangwarry’s Ray Ingley after he started out as one of the fi rst general labourers in February of 1991. Serving as a forklift operator in the despatch area up until his fi nal day, Mr Ingley’s 22 years of service have its fair share of ups and downs, but unfortunately his affi liation with the site ended on a low when the closure announcement was made. “I was a bit bewildered,” Mr Ingley said. “I remember they asked how everyone was feeling and I just didn’t know how to respond. “I guess we felt it had been a long time coming for the last three years. “We were just waiting for the day, but when it came it was still a bit of a shock.” Mr Ingley said that while McCain Foods moved to assure Right beside him along the way has been his sister and assistant line controller Jenny Thomson. “The people there made it, it was like one big family,” he said. Ms Thompson said management had remained true to their word in offering support for those seeking new employment. “They When one job goes, it is felt the whole way around the area Chris Phelan employees their performance played no part in the decision, it was little consolation. “It didn’t soften the blow,” he said. With McCain taking over the plant in December of 1991, Mr Ingley has seen it all, from the introduction of new machinery and protocols to job losses and the closure of the Millicent plant. assisted us in every way possible,” she said. “The girls at the Limestone Coast Career Development Centre were amazing.” Meanwhile, production controller Chris Phelan remained concerned about the ongoing effects the closure would have on the region. “When one job goes, it is felt the whole way around the area,” he said. “It’s going to affect Nangwarry and Tarpeena especially and there is already not a whole lot going on in those towns. “The fl ow-on effect is going to hurt.” Mr Phelan said he believed within 18 months the nation’s potato stock would be sourced from overseas. The Penola plant previously held a number one production ranking in the McCain global manufacturing system and was considered one of the company’s top 10 sites for some time, but Mr Phelan believes multi-million dollar upgrades were needed for work to continue in the South East. Employees, management, and families had one last offi cial duty to attend to on Saturday night as they came together at the Mount Gambier Presidential Quality Inn Motel for the fi nal Safries Christmas show. •Social photographs from the Christmas show will be published in Friday’s edition of The Border W atch. FAMILY RACE DAY SUNDAY 29 DECEMBER 2013 SUNDAY 29 DECEMBER 2013 Naracoorte Racecourse FREE Childr -Jumping castle – Jumping castle – Kelly Sports’ games, craft s and circus tricks -Archie and the stable stars kid’s club -Kelly Sports’ games, crafts and circus tricks – Archie and the stable stars kid’s club For more info call Ginny Harvie on 0438 622 271 or more info call Ginny Harvie on 0438 622 271 E S T 637032 The Border Watch, Tuesday, December 24, 2013 - 3 aracoorte Racecourse Gates open 11.00am General Admission $10 Gates open 11am | General admission $10 FREE Children’s entertainment including entertainment including; THERE’S NOTHING LIKE A FAMILY DAY AT THE RACES. • new dentures full and partial • denture repairs • denture relines • mouthguards • existing denture problems • private and health funds • Department of Veteran Affairs • South Australian Dental Scheme PHONE FOR CONSULTATION 03 5382 3930 • 0418 351 444 All Welcome B L A 624716 635787 V I SI ST A R S T . C . O MA U
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