Collier & Miller stalwarts celebrate combined 90 years at Griffith farm equipment supplier

The longest serving male and female employees at Griffith farm equipment supplier Collier & Miller have each marked milestones this year, as they celebrate a combined 90 years at the company.

Willy DeValentin, 71, who started as a fitter/machinist in 1969, has completed 55 years, while office administrator Robyn Meehan, 60, has racked up 35 years.

“I was a 16-year-old ratbag; it was my first ever job out of school. I started in the workshop when all we did was manufacturing; the retail part we have now was a carpark,” Mr DeValentin said.

“I’m still here because of one reason – the Miller family. The bosses have been really good to me.

“You wouldn’t believe what they did for my 50th year – they sent me to Canada for a one-month holiday with my wife.”

The iconic Griffith business was launched in 1946, when Bill Collier returned from the war as a qualified fitter/machinist and started trading at the top of Banna Avenue, next to where Belvedere Restaurant is today.

He partnered with Ron Miller in 1957, when the company began to expand rapidly and moved to its current location on Irrigation Way in 1962. Ron’s son Peter later began as general manager while grandson Chris runs the enterprise today, which has more than 160 staff across a 20,000-sqm worksite.

“I was playing netball with Peter Miller’s wife [in 1989], when she told me that they needed someone,” Ms Meehan said.

“I was working for Tony Parle of Parle Foods, and had to go out of town every day, so Collier & Miller appealed to me.

“The work is a lot more interesting now than when I first started, when everything was done by books. I’m on my feet a lot more and there’s different things to do.”

Ms Meehan had no issues settling into a male-dominated workplace.

“They were all really nice to me; I probably prefer working with men anyway.

“The site is massive now; it’s hard to believe how big we have become since I first started.”

General manager Chris Miller says the longevity of employees like Robyn and Willy is unique.

“You won’t find anyone who’s been in the job going on 56 years like Willy,” he said.

“I can remember when Robyn first started; she was teaching my mum to make cakes.

“Willy and Robyn are like family; everyone here are family.

“The question Willy gets now is when he’s retiring, but we don’t want him to retire.”

Mr DeValentin was coy about his future.

“There’s a plan for retirement but there’s only one person who knows about it. That’s me.”