Graham Burgess is a colourful character who has built quite a reputation during his 50 years working in the carpentry department at Otago Polytechnic.
The 74-year-old is believed to be the first staff member to reach half a century of service, and the milestone was officially celebrated yesterday when staff knocked off for an hour-long smoko.
The gathering included carpentry division colleagues, representatives from community and business partners, and the polytechnic’s senior leadership team who presented him with a 50 years’ service pin and a certificate to acknowledge the milestone.
Mr Burgess did his training at Otago Polytechnic before becoming an apprentice carpenter, and then a foreman for a construction company.
While construction was a rewarding job, he felt he had more to give.
So, he began lecturing carpentry at the polytechnic in 1975, when it was still based in the King Edward Technical College and in Andersons Bay Rd.
The programme later moved to the new campus in Anzac Ave.
During his time there, he has had many roles, including carpentry programme manager and Dunedin Carpentry team learning leader.
"I had skills that I could pass on to others. I think I just wanted to try and help people.
"It is rewarding to stand back and look at a finished construction project, but seeing the students that you’ve taught to make those kinds of things, is even more rewarding."
A lot had changed over the years — not only with the introduction of modern health and safety regulations, but the students themselves.
"When I first started here, probably about 85% of our students had some building experience — whether it be building a trolley car or a tree hut.
"But in today’s world, we’re probably lucky if 10% of the students actually have much in the way of building experience.
"The one thing both generations still have is a passion for building."
One of his most challenging projects during his career was building a device to catch the large Jaffas that rolled down the world’s steepest street for the Baldwin St Jaffa Race.
He said the project took much longer than expected.
"We had a ramp set up with some Jaffas to roll down, so we could test it.
"But the students kept eating the test product."
More recently, he has taken over the role of housing projects co-ordinator within the College of Engineering, Construction and Living Sciences.
It includes overseeing the construction of the annual Otago Polytechnic Charity House which is auctioned off to raise money for charities throughout Otago.
Mr Burgess is well-known for being hard as nails for a good reason.
For 45 years, he worked without taking a sick day.
"I had one day off, just after the 45 years, and it was because I broke a finger.
"It got crushed a wee bit between some trusses. It’s all right now.
"I went back to work the next day."
He had taken some more sick days in recent years, due to some ill health and his "growing maturity", but he still has no plans to retire.
He continues to work part-time at the polytechnic because he would miss the smell of woodchips and "the contact with people".
He said yesterday’s recognition was both "a bit embarrassing" but also humbling.
