HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 2014-12-03, Page 7Valerie Gillies/Lucknow Sentinel
Gary Austin is retiring on December 9, 2014 as Public Works
Foreman in Lucknow after 37 years in the Public Works Department.
Wednesday, December 3, 2014 • Lucknow Sentinel 7
Retiring after 37 Years
of Service to Lucknow
Valerie Gillies
Editor, Lucknow Sentinel
Gary Austin has been a
very important member of
the community of Lucknow
for over 37 years, but is now
planning his retirement from
the Public Works Depart-
ment as of December 9, 2014.
Austin has lived in this
area since he was 3 years old
and in the Village of Luc -
know since he was 10. Before
joining the Public Works
Department, Austin worked
in collision until 1977.
When Austin began his
current career, he was Public
Works Foreman Assistant for
the village of Lucknow. At
that time the department
was responsible for all roads,
street lighting, water and
hydro. A big change
occurred during restructur-
ing when Lucknow was
joined with Huron -Kinloss.
Westario now looks after
hydro and Veolia has the
water and sewers. The Public
Works now does mostly
roadwork. Austin relates that
when he used to be around
town reading the meters he
had a lot more personal con-
tact with the residents and
got to know them. It was not
uncommon to be asked
favours such as delivering
messages, invoices and pay-
ments to the office. That part
of the job no longer exists.
He misses that contact.
Over the years many peo-
ple called Austin at home,
rather than at the office, as
they knew him so well in Luc -
know. He says "our house
became the 911 call 24/7. We
still get calls, but now we
direct them to others"
Before amalgamation, the
Lucknow Public Works
employed 2 people. Now
under Huron -Kinloss there
are 8 with 2 in Lucknow, 2 in
Holyrood, and 4 in Ripley
although they do work back
and forth with each other.
Austin considers himself
lucky to have worked with
Cliff Crawford, who was "a
lot of fun, then Doug Hal-
denby, "a real asset', con-
cluding that they are both
"good guys':
Austin's wife, Sharon, is
happy about the retirement.
She has found it difficult to
plan as emergencies could
not be predicted. She often
exclaimed that the weather
controlled their life as when
it snowed, Gary would have
to be out plowing it. She will
be glad when he is no longer
putting in the long hours.
Austin commends his wife
for being so supportive of his
work and so patient with all
of the calls to their home.
In retirement, Austin is
looking forward to spend-
ing more time with his wife,
his grandkids and driving
more in his 1994 "Vette': He
has been a member of the
Lucknow Fire Department
since 1968, which he claims
is a hobby that he is not giv-
ing up.
Iucknowsentinel.com
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