Making every post a winner

It finished up a big day after Inn Keeper won in town.

The Caulfield victory was the third consecutive leg of four wins that we had with Inn Keeper.

He started his winning sequence off at Terang, Warrnambool and then Caulfield before finishing up winning at Swan Hill.

It was the first time that a horse I had a share in ran in town. It was a massive thrill.

I was playing cricket for Purnim and local horse trainer Symon Wilde was also playing at the club.

Symon suggested a group of us should get a syndicate together to have shares in a horse.

My good mates Rodger Henderson and Greg Billington - who played cricket at Purnim and I used to work with them at the Warrnambool Co-Op - are also in the ownership of Inn Keeper.

Mick, let's talk about the Warrnambool Co-Op. It closed in 2007. How many years did you work at the Co-Op?

I started at the Co-Op in 1981 and I was there for 10 years.

Leo Bourke, who was in charge of the electrical department, put a good word in for me to get a job.

I started off in the electrical department.

After a period of time, I was transferred to the store's men's clothing department, where I worked with John Walters.

I was also doing all the signwriting for the business.

It was a terrific place to work.

The staff were just like one big happy family.

I would hate to estimate how many people the Warrnambool Co-Op employed over the years, from full-time workers to casuals and to giving young school kids a chance to get some work on weekends.

Were you surprised the Warrnambool Co-Op closed its doors in 2007?

To say I was shocked would be an understatement.

I left in 1991 and the business was going gang-busters.

The business had a huge following of locals that shopped there.

I've got to acknowledge the boss, Bill Quinlan.

There's no doubt that Bill was the backbone of the business.

And sadly, I would have to say after he left the Warrnambool Co-Op things went backwards at a very quick rate.

All the people who used to work at the Warrnambool Co-Op have the chance to have a catch up as we're having a reunion at Rafferty's Hotel on March 28.

Where did your working life go after you left the Warrnambool Co-Op in 1991?

I went out and managed the Shamrock Hotel in Dennington before going to the mines in Western Australia for a few years, then I came back and I started looking for a job.

I thought I would get a job up at Midfield Meats in 1999 but that proved a bit more difficult than I first thought.

What do you mean it proved more difficult than you first thought?

I arrived up at the abattoirs at 5.30am in the morning.

You had to line up and were interviewed by Colin McKenna - as I said it was back in 1999 but I've never forget it.

Colin told me there was no work there that day.

I went home and fronted up the next morning at 5.30am and Colin told me that again, there's no work for me.

I went home again and fronted up for a third morning - 5.30am again and Colin said there's work there that day.

I've worked up at Midfield Meats for more than 20 years now and I'm still there to this day.

Having worked there over the years, I've worked out that Colin was just checking me out to see if I was committed to work - that's why it took to the third day to get a job.

I started off working as a labourer and then as a slaughterman before working in quality assurance.

I'm now the training manager at Midfield.

I'm extremely lucky for the opportunities I've been given at Midfield.

Over the years I've heard people being critical, but I've got nothing but respect for Colin and Dean McKenna and the business.

All they ask of their workers is to have a good work ethic and be reliable.

Away from your working career, have you played much sport?

I played junior footy with South Warrnambool before joining Dennington's juniors for one season. I then played for Old Collegians.

We used to live straight across the road from the ground.

I was captain of the under 18 side at Old Collegians when they lost the premiership to Dennington.

I played in the seniors with Old Collegians, but my footy career came to close when I was 21.

I had broken my wrists 13 times, mainly my right one including re-breaks.

I was devastated my career came to a halt as I loved playing footy.

I'm now the junior development person at Old Collegians. I love the involvement with the young kids.

Did you play cricket?

Yes, I started out playing with West Warrnambool juniors before playing with the seniors.

After a few years I went out and played with Purnim.

I was captain-coach for a couple of years at Purnim and played in a B Grade premiership with the club.

I had a few stints with Purnim and went back to play with West Warrnambool.

I was lucky enough to get five wickets in one innings, and five in the other innings against East Warrnambool in one game while I played for West Warrnambool.

I also spent a couple of years out playing cricket for Killarney when my brother Darren was captain-coach of the club.