After 40 years, Doris calls it a day

By Paul Dunlop
DORIS Hogben was given the red carpet treatment on her last day at work at Pakenham’s Nestle factory.
The longserving employee has retired after 40 years with the company.
Staff treated Doris to a right royal farewell celebration on Tuesday last week.
She was picked up in a chauffeurdriven limousine and taken to work where she made a Hollywoodstyle entrance to a party in her honour.
Family and close friends, including former Hawthorn football champion Michael Tuck and wife Fay, who live in Berwick, joined Doris’ workmates and Nestle officials for afternoon tea.
Doris was treated to a special ‘This is your Life’ account of her four decades at the factory that had become like a “second home”.
“They are all like family to me,” she said of her workmates.
Doris thanked Nestle staff and management for their support over the years. “You go through each other’s good and bad times together, you can’t help but love them all.”
Doris said she was thrilled by the surprise end to her working life.
“It was a fantastic day,” she said.
Her career began soon out of school at the factory site on the corner of Racecourse Road and Bald Hill Road, when Pakenham was still a quiet, country town.
Doris was 15 when she began working there, so it certainly has a place close to her heart.
“I’ve got many happy memories, Oh God yes,” she said.
“I’ve made so many great friends through work. I’ve loved being there.”
After so many years at work, the prospect of retirement seems a little strange, Doris said.
But she and husband David are looking forward to using the time to travel.
“We love touring around, we don’t make plans, just pack the car up and go.”