Mark Waterman - 25 Years at AQA Victoria

On the 22 nd of March this year, Mark Waterman celebrated his 25 th Anniversary at AQA.

Mark began work at AQA on 24/2/1982 . Since then, AQA Victoria has gone through many changes as has Mark’s job description. Mark’s duties have been wide and varied. He was the Paymaster, Bookkeeper, Accounts Receivable/Payable Clerk, Telex Operator, Fax Operator and Desk Top Publisher. In other words, if you needed to know anything – Mark was your man!

Mark worked full-time and when he moved to Mooroolbark from Alphington, this meant 5am starts, to put in a full day! All of us who work with people with disabilities understand the commitment and effort this must take over a 25 year period! Mark in fact only reduced his working hours about 4 years ago.

Mark’s knowledge of technology was amazing. He was our ‘tech wiz’ – Mark taught many staff who had little or no prior computer knowledge, much of what they know today. Mark did the original work on the first News Link newsletters that were published and continues to assist with the Desk Top Publishing of the newsletter today.

As AQA’s copying and secretarial business increased, Mark liaised with clients, many of whom remained clients until we closed the business in 2004. He was well respected by clients, who enjoyed his relaxed, friendly manner as well as his ‘nothing was too much trouble’ attitude. In fact it is Mark’s attitude to life, and friendly composure that allows us to forgive him for being such a ‘one-eyed’ Hawthorn supporter!

As a celebration and thank you for his efforts during the 25 years of loyal service to AQA Victoria Pty Ltd, the office presented Mark with a ‘Gold Watch’, to which he commented “It’ll look a lot better with some brown stripes on it”. We’ve never seen Mark so surprised, embarrassed and gob-smacked as he was when one of his ‘boyhood’ heroes, Hawthorn legend Peter Knights, came to present him with an autographed Hawthorn jumper signed by the current crop of the club’s players. It was a day we hope remains vivid in his memory for a long time to come. It was only a small token of appreciation compared to his dedication and contribution to this office over the last 25 years.