50 Years for Graham Burgess - What a milestone!

Veteran staff member Graham Burgess is certainly what you'd call "a stayer".

The Carpentry programme stalwart is celebrating 50 years of service with Otago Polytechnic this month. He's believed to be the first kaimahi to achieve this length of service here.

The impressive milestone was recognised at a special morning tea event on Monday, where Graham was joined by current and former colleagues as well as industry partners.

Graham was presented with a 50 Years pin and Long Service Award certificate, together with a skillsaw gifted by Otago Polytechnic and the team at Placemakers Dunedin.  He also received an engraved wooden saw plaque, in lieu of a traditional card. 

He began working at Otago Polytechnic in 1975, when the institution was based in the King Edward Technical College on upper Stuart Street.

Shortly after, much of the practical work for building apprentices was carried out at "a very chilly" site in Andersons Bay Road, which previously housed the DCC's trolley bus depot.

(The Carpentry programme moved to its current "L Block" site on Anzac Avenue in October 1992).

Graham received the polytechnic's Excellence in Leadership award in 2011. His roles over the years included Carpentry Programme Manager and Learning Leader for our Dunedin Carpentry team.

The 74 year old currently works as the Housing Projects co-ordinator within the College of Engineering, Construction and Living Sciences.

(This includes overseeing the annual Charity House project, where one of the houses built by our ākonga is auctioned off to raise money for Otago charities).

Another memorable partnership was the involvement in the annual Cadbury Chocolate Carnival.

Graham's crew helped build the release and catching boxes for the famous Jaffa Race down Baldwin Street, along with a 3.6m-long Chocolate House (designed and built by Otago Polytechnic out of MDF, and covered with 90kgs of chocolate art).

But Graham's proudest achievement was ushering in the move to using e-portfolios (using digital photos) to assess Certificate of Carpentry students.

This replaced the traditional unit standard methods of marking workbooks, and had major benefits for staff and students, both in time savings and in more effective assessments.

Colleagues praised his wisdom and leadership.  Principal lecturer Kevin Dunbar noted, "There wouldn't be one building firm in Dunedin and Otago that hasn't been blessed with Graham's knowledge."

Justin Macready, Owner/Operator of Placemakers Dunedin, says many of his regular customers were taught by Graham, and are now in charge of or own their own building companies.

"Graham was a big part of their start in the industry."

"I think the most amazing thing with people like Graham is the knowledge he imparts without even realising it," he says.

Congratulations Graham on 50 years of dedicated service to Otago Polytechnic. Your contributions have helped shape Otago Polytechnic and our staff and students are incredibly grateful for your hard work and commitment over the years.

(He's not retiring just yet, Graham plans to continue working part-time in the Carpentry department.)

(The Otago Daily Times also visited to cover Graham's achievement. Their [Subscriber] story is here: Milestone celebrated with smoko )