Newspaper Article 1994 – Old chums refuse to let friendship die

Old chums refuse to let friendship die

The day Tom Heremia and Ron Longley hoped would never come arrived on Friday when the pair left “their second home” at the Tomoana freezing works.

Mr Heremia and Mr Longley started work at Tomoana in 1972 and built up such a strong friendship that they have vowed to keep in contact every day of their retirement.

Not only did they start one month apart at the freezing works but they are both 59 years old and they both worked in the freezers.

The two men said they were probably too old to find work and it was likely that they would spend the rest of their lives on a pension.

Both men knew the end was near and Mr Heremia said Friday was the saddest of his life.

“For it to actually happen it really hits you,” Mr Heremia said.

Most Tomoana workers lost their jobs in August and Mr Longley said it was hard to associate with those who were already out of work.

“We were friends with the juniors to the old timers through to families, foreman and office staff,” Mr Longley said.

Both men also had family members who had worked at Tomoana. They said it was hard to go off to work knowing family members did not have a job to go to.

Mr Longley and Mr Heremia are spending three days in Wellington staying with Mr Heremia’s cousin.

Photo caption – Long-time work mates Tom Heremia, left, and Ron Longley finished at the Tomoana works on Friday after working together for 22 years.