Army's top civilian retires

Ruapehu Bulletin, 10 November 1992, Page 1

Army's top civilian retires

By

Jan,

Savell

Thirty four and a quarter years with the New Zealand Defence Force made Jim McCready the longest serving civilian employee - up until Friday. Mr McCready retired from his position of regional secretary for the Army Training Group and was farewelled at a Command Parade on Monday 2 November. Mr McCready has held the highest civilian position for Waiouru Military Camp since 1980, advising seven different commanders on matters of civil administration and finance. His 34 years with the New Zealand Defence Force includes two overseas postings. Guests for the 1 Command Parade came from as far away as Christchurch to farewell

Mr McCready. "The parade is a singularly sobering thing. I can't recall it being done before for a civilian. It is a great honour and I'm deeply moved," said Mr McCready. "I leave here with the satisfaction of doing my job to the best of my ability. It's not the sort of job where you see an end product but I've enjoyed the great Tiaison with the military and Turn to page 2

Top civilians

From page 1 civilian staff," he said. Mr McCready has seen great changes in his 13 years in Waiouru, his own job developing from purely civil administration to its present status of financial adviser to the commander. He took the opportunity to speak at the command parade to urge soldiers to accept the changes they are experiencing. "Don't be anti-change. Changes are good if you

can be sure they will work We are now doing more ' with less. The restructuring has streamlined our methods of operation and we have proved we can achieve a more efficient output with fewer people," said Mr McCready. Mr McCready leaves Waiouru to start a family business operating dog boarding kennels in Queensland. He says the change to semi-retirement is one which he finds easy to accept.