A partnership of 21 years has ended with the departure of popular Manawatū campus dining hall staff member Pam Mills last Friday.
“We’ve been together 21 years so I will miss her but I’m excited for her as well,” says co-worker Tangi Te Tera.
Mrs Mills started working at Massey in residential services in 1997 and moved to the dining hall a year later. Miss Te Tera had started there in 1994.
Between them they have been employed by the University and then successive catering firms AFS/Delaware, Spotless and Compass. Her farewell attracted dozens of staff and some former colleagues.
Mrs Mills says she will miss Massey, its staff and students and all her workmates, but particularly Miss Te Tera. “I’m really sad to be leaving her,” she says. “Tangi made a card for me and I read it out before and we both started bawling our eyes out. But it’s exciting and a new journey.”
Mrs Mills is moving to Queenstown with her husband Graham, but not to retire. “I’m not sure what I’m going to do but I’m too young to retire.” Both her children are Massey graduates and the move will bring her closer to her daughter in the South Island.