Hanging up his gumboots after 44 years

Long serving abattoir worker Mike Pyke has decided to hang up his coat, hair net and gumboots after 44 years with Dardanup Butchering Company.

Picture by David Bailey

Mr Pyke, 67, who still appreciates a juicy porterhouse steak, started working alongside his father in 1959 after leaving high school at age 14.

From humble beginnings as a sweeper on the abattoir floor, Mr Pyke worked his way up in the company to become a livestock buyer and quality assurance officer.

He worked for DBC for 16 years, had a break for eight years and then moved back there once his father retired in 1983.

Mr Pyke said working at the abattoir had been a family affair.

‘‘There has been one of us here with the company since it started in 1950,’’ he said.

‘‘I have worked alongside my father, brother and son with me being the last to leave on Friday.’’

Mr Pyke said working at DBC was great fun and he had learnt a lot about work ethics from his mentors.

‘‘I had two good trainers — the founder of the company Frankie Panizza and my father Steven,’’ he said.

‘‘My father was the first employee they ever hired at the company.

‘‘They always taught me to go to work and get the job done.’’

Mr Pyke said a lot of changes had happened at DBC during his working life.

‘‘They first started with 15 workers and now the company has more than 250 employees,’’ he said.

Mr Pyke now plans to relax and take break with his wife and grandchildren and go on holiday.