The national average for time spent in a job in Australia is three years but Coles Margaret River team member Elaine Hobson has smashed that trend, with an impressive 45 years serving WA customers at the checkout.
Celebrating her sapphire year this month, the team at Coles Margaret River say Elaine is a precious gemstone they would be lost without.
Elaine first started her career at Coles Claremont when Gough Whitlam was Prime Minister and ABBA was topping the charts, however more than four decades on, Elaine clearly remembers the lime green dress she wore on her first day.
"I quite like the shirts and trousers we wear now as they are a lot comfier than the lime green dresses we used to wear," she laughed.
Back when I first started we had to hand price everything. I used to put items on the shelf and then put the price label on - It was quite odd when we changed to barcodes and scanners.
- Elaine Hobson
"Back when I first started we had to hand price everything. I used to put items on the shelf and then put the price label on - It was quite odd when we changed to barcodes and scanners."
While Elaine is a very familiar face for locals at Coles Margaret River -- she's more famously known around town for her charity fundraising raffles which customers jump at the chance to get their hands on.
"To watch someone's face light up when you tell them 'you've won' it's wonderful!" she said.
Coles Margaret River Customer Service Manager Sherice Fountain Brooks says when Elaine is not busy serving locals at the checkout, she can be found several times a year raffling and raising money for local charities at the front of the store.
"We'd be lost without her, and her raffles are quite well known - everyone wants a ticket and she always raises a lot of money for well deserving, local charities," Sherice said.
"Elaine is very community minded and her constant hard work never goes unnoticed by her team members."
Elaine is one of 24 team members who has reached more than 40 years service in Western Australia and says she has no plans to stop work anytime soon.
"I'm planning to stay, I turned 65 this year, so I might be slowing down but I'll work as long as I can," she said.
