"I'm now 83, and I certainly never expected that I'd still be here all these years later!"
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In a time where retail stores are facing surmountable odds during the pandemic, the longest serving Big W employee Shirley King is instead celebrating.
Mrs King was part of the very first crew, and is stoked to be there as the Tamworth store celebrates it's 43 year anniversary.
"It's always nice to celebrate, even if it's a low-key celebration with just our team this year," she explained.
"In times like these, we all want a reason to smile! I think there will be plenty to celebrate next year, after we are out of the pandemic bubble."
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Mrs King started working at BIG W when she was 40, needing a second income to support her family with five children.
[S]ometimes I think I should retire, but I love going in store and seeing all the friendly and familiar faces that I have grown to love over the years.
- Shirley King
Both customers and fellow staff remain the highlight of her working hours, and she says they've played a huge part of her journey.
"One of my fondest memories was when some of our team got together to make a huge yellow paper cache kangaroo for a float for the Tamworth Country Music Parade," she recalled.
"It was about 20 or 30 feet high by the time we finished it and we had such a fun time as a team building it together!"
She likes to do special favours for her customers she's gotten to know, like reminding them when an item has come back in stock or when their orders are ready for pick up.
"You don't have to - but I like doing this for my customers."
Mrs King sometimes finds it hard to believe she's been working there for the majority of her adult life - almost 44 years.
But with her husband passing 20 years ago and her son off at university at that time, the Big W store became a home away from home.
"[S]ometimes I think I should retire, but I love going in store and seeing all the friendly and familiar faces that I have grown to love over the years," she said.
"BIG W really has been my outlet and my support system over the years."
Store manager Matthew Dustin agreed with Mrs King that this had certainly been a year like no other.
He is looking forward to be able to "celebrate the hard work of our team - especially in these challenging times and acknowledge our loyal customers who've been coming through our doors for years.
"Really proud" of the way the company has adapted to COVID, Mrs King says that "we just have to ride it out together and stay safe."
Big W in Tamworth will turn 43 on Monday, August 17.
