AFTER more than 50 years in the industry, the Action Pumps and Irrigation team would like to congratulate Ken Wardle who has decided to retire recently.

Ken has been a huge part of the pumps and irrigation industry since 1969, working at different places all across Gippsland.

His experience, dedication and invaluable knowledge are why he is well renowned across the community according to Action Pumps and Irrigation Leongatha employees Hannah Engel, Andrew Leeden and Stephen Reed.

“People came to him for his knowledge, he was the person you came to when everyone else said ‘I don’t know’, people would come to him if they couldn’t work out what to do, he was dedicated and thorough,” said Hannah and Stephen.

“In his day he was quite a hard worker and very experienced, some of the stuff he used to do, he used to work with huge displays and when you compare photos of those displays to what we stock today you can only imagine how busy he was back then,” said Andrew.

“He was a hard worker and definitely dedicated to the pump industry, 100 per cent.”

Andrew also explained how Ken and all his attributes were integral to the industry in the region when asked what his secret to longevity was.

“It was his passion, dealing with people, the knowledge he had of the people and the products and their needs, someone would walk in the door and Ken would just go ‘yeah, he needs one of these’, and we wouldn’t even know the bloke,” Andrew said.

“The industry without him wouldn’t have been what it is in this area, he was the go-to person, if you wanted an answer, he was the guy to come to.”

“If we could have got his knowledge and kept it, we’d be miles ahead of where we are today.”

Ken’s mark on the industry is well clear and documented and he has taken up many different roles in different areas, as Andrew and Hannah mentioned.

“He used to do on site stuff, they did trenching, he used to do it by hand,” they said.

Ken was introduced to the industry in 1969, after working for a company in Warragul.

He was then appointed company manager of the Dents store in Korumburra before opening Aussie Water Gear in Leongatha ,which he ran for several successful years, before briefly retiring for three years in 2001.

Ken then came out of retirement to help out the Action Pumps and Irrigation team as store manager, before his brilliant career came to an end earlier this year.

Although, his inspiring dedication is not exclusive to his work as the team explained.

“He was dedicated to his kids and his family as well, they have had their problems over the years and his time and dedication to them (was amazing),” they said.

“All in all, he’s just a great bloke,” Andrew added.

Ken has certainly left a massive mark on the Industry in South Gippsland and a positive one too and helping his local community to the very end, something he loved about his job.

“Serving customers and giving them information about water products is what I love most about my job,” according to Ken himself as quoted on the Action Pumps and Irrigation website. 

The Action Pumps and Irrigation team farewelled Ken with a retirement dinner last week and showed their gratitude towards the Korumburra local.

“In a nutshell, the industry in this area wouldn’t be anything without him, he’s so well known,” Andrew said.