Fifty-one years and eight months.
That’s how many years Ray Mahoney has worked for Burnie City Council.
After a lifetime of commitment to the Burnie community, Ray has decided to retire, effective 27 June 2025.
Beginning with Council on 8 October 1973, Ray’s first position would see him working nights, on foot following the garbage truck, slinging bags of rubbish in the back. In 1973 a new car would cost $3,200, and petrol was 67c a litre.
Ray has continued in the waste team for the majority of his time at Council, with a short stint in Civil construction.
The council estimates Ray has picked up 10 million bins, travelled 750,000kms, and used 1.5M litres of diesel in his time here at Council.
Burnie City Council General Manager Shane Crawford said “To serve the community for over half a century is an extraordinary achievement”.
“Ray’s unwavering dedication, reliability, and hard work have made a significant and lasting impact not only within his team but across the entire organisation,” he said.
“As Mayor, and as a mum who raised four little people here in Burnie, I have fond memories of Ray waving to my kids as he passed by on the rubbish run often with four of them all lined up at the fence waiting to see him,” Mayor Teeny Brumby added.
“I know our family isn’t alone. So many children across Burnie have grown up with the familiar and friendly wave from Ray. Thank you, Ray, for the way you’ve not only served our city but connected with our community so warmly over so many years”.
